Tuesday Shoesday: A Little Bit of Paris

Rest your shopping-weary feet with these utterly charming Parisian chic flats, complete with oversized ribbon bow.  And don't worry ladies, these dainty delights won't break the bank.

Happy feet indeed!

Image via BHLDN.

Tuesday Shoesday: Glittery Goodness

Alright, perhaps not quite so practical for your wedding day, but absolutely irresistible nonetheless!

Image via Net-a-porter.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Exclusive Q+A with Monique Lhuillier

Having a bit of a Monique Lhuillier love affair {wouldn't you be too?} and what better way to celebrate than an exclusive Q+A with the expert team at Monique Lhuillier!

Q: What are some general tips and advice you have for brides when they first try on wedding dresses?

A: The most important thing to remember is not to get overwhelmed! Try on 6-8 gowns to get an overall feel for the fit and design.

Also, Be true to yourself. If you have never been comfortable in a strapless dress your wedding day isn’t the day to wear one! If you know you have to wear a bra- don’t fall in love with a backless dress!

Don't forget to have an open mind. You may not be able to visualize how a 2 piece wedding gown fits on the body by looking at it on the hanger or just because you envisioned yourself in satin doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick a lace gown that you love!

And trust the experts! Consultants are experts on their product! They have seen brides of all shapes and sizes! Listen to their advice and know that they want you to look the best you possibly can on your wedding day.

Q: What do you see todays' bride trending towards?

A: The reception short cocktail dress has made a major comeback! Stars such as Carrie Underwood have set the tone by changing into a sexy short cocktail dress to dance the night away! At Monique Lhuillier you will see embellished corset bodices with textured short skirts!

Q: You've probably seen this before: a bride loves one gown, but her friends/family think she should wear something else. As the expert, what would you advise on this dilemma.

A: This happens all the time! As the bride is shopping for her wedding gown she is bogged down with opinions from all of her family and friends. What our bride needs to remember that only she will be wearing the dress she selects!! If you feel confident and beautiful in your dress that is the only thing that matters. Listen to yourself and you can’t go wrong!

I think to avoid any negative energy it is best to bring your friends or family after you have already found the dress of your dreams and purchased it! This way you can announce confidently here is my dress- not giving room for any opinions to sway your decision or make you second guess!


Q: Any bride would love to be surrounded by all the beautiful gowns at the salon on Melrose Place. How do you help her narrow down her choices of finding the dream dress?

A: The thought of choosing just ONE dress out of the sea of beautiful gowns we have at the salon is no easy task! It is so important to try on several different styles and shapes to narrow in on the silhouette that you want to wear. After the silhouette is selected then you can easily navigate through the details to decide what it is that you like best- embroideries, beading, lace or textured layering!

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Free Registry 101 with Anne Chertoff & Williams-Sonoma

If you're still working on on your wedding registry - deciding where to register, what to put on it - as well as looking for some wedding planning tips to help you plan your big day, and live in the New York tri-state area, you may want to sign up (it's free!) for one of these upcoming events at Williams-Sonoma.

On Sunday, February 20th at 9am aisledash.com Editor-in-Chief Anne Chertoff will be at the Williams-Sonoma store at the Time Warner Center, and on Sunday February, 27th, also at 9am, at the Williams-Sonoma store on 59th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues, sharing both wedding planning and style advice as well as wedding registry and entertaining tips.

Learn how to create the perfect wedding registry to fit your lifestyle and get wedding planning and style tips to help you play your dream wedding. Come mingle with local wedding professionals and enjoy personal service, expert advice, and light refreshments.

Space is limited to 40 people each, so RSVP today!

To RSVP for the Sunday, February 20th event at the Time Warner Center (10 Columbus Circle), call 212-823-9750.

To RSVP for the Sunday, February 27th event at the 59th Street and Lexington Avenue store (121 East 59th Street), call 917-369-1131.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Jeffrey from JM Visuals

I'm delighted to share with you this weeks expert - New York City Event guru Jeffrey Marcus from JM Visuals!

Besides boasting a client list with illustrious brands like Chanel, Banana Republic, H&M, Moët Hennessy, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Jeffrey's work has also been featured in all the top bridal glossies like New York Magazine Weddings, Brides, The Knot, and Town and Country.
One of the many things I love about Jeffrey's work? His ability to infuse his weddings with all his experience in visual design. Rest assured a wedding by JM Visuals will be like no other!

Jeffrey answers the question we're all dying to know: what's the most important detail when planning a wedding on a budget and still have it look grand?

Create a monochromatic theme for your wedding decor! Here's a bride that loves yellow:

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Jorge from Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton

I am so excited to share with my lovely readers these tips on making registering easier! As Director and National Spokesperson at Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton, Jorge Perez is the authority on entertaining how to's and registering in style.

In addition to partnering up with high fashion and household names like Vera Wang, Martha Stewart, and Barbara Barry, the collections at Waterford, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton have just about everything you need to create a happy home.

Here are Jorge's Top 10 Tips for Registering . . .

1. REGISTER! REGISTER! REGISTER!

2. Register at stores that offer great registry rewards and an on-line registry service.

3. Do Not register at more than 3 establishments and make sure to register for things that “YOU” will need and use and not for what others are telling you to register for.

4. Register early (to take advantage of all your bridal functions prior to your wedding) and check your registry often on-line to make any adjustments.

5. Make sure to register for enough items (2 gifts for each person you invite) and at many different price points ($25, $50, $100, $350, etc). This makes it easier for your loved ones and group work friends to buy you the gifts you want.

6. Invite your Groom to get involved in the registry. Maybe he can register for the things that he likes, like the Bar or entertainment center.

7. Listen to your mothers! At least 10%. Remember - they went through this and feel that they have much to offer, but don’t forget that it is your decision and your table (not hers).

8. Take a very few (if any) people with you when you register. Less people means less opinions.

9. Register for more than you think you’ll need. Your registry is about your future, so register for all the BASICS that you will need to entertain.

10. Don’t Register CHEAP! Register for quality items that will be with you forever and will become your family heirlooms, like Waterford and Wedgwood.

Image via Toast and Tables.

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.

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.

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.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Crystal from The Huntley

I'm just thrilled have my friend Crystal from The Huntley Hotel share her tips on wedding planning with the cinderella project. Crystal's an expert in the industry and having worked with countless brides and wedding guests, she's got the perfect perspective on several things you should consider when planning your wedding:

Beginnings

Wedding size: It’s important to have an estimate of how many guests you would like to invite so that you are looking into the right size venues. The Huntley is ideal for a wedding of 75 – 100 guests. All the ballroom spaces along with the outdoor terrace and rooftop restaurant are all newly renovated and serve as ideal spaces for the ceremony and reception.

Budget: It’s important to know how much you want to spend and what is expected for the event. The Huntley Hotel has wedding packages put together, but if they are not necessarily what the bride and groom envisioned for their wedding, we can customize a package for them to fit their needs and price point.

Timing: Try as best as you can to make a timeline and stick to your deadlines. Wedding venues should be booked approx. 8 to 12months in advanced. Dinners/Brunches should be booked approx. 3 months in advance. And hotel accommodations should be contracted approx. 6 months in advance. Of course, booking everything sooner the better.

Receptions

Liquor packages: If you would like to have open bar at your reception, but are a little bit more price conscious, you can opt for a beer and wine package over a premium liquor package. Also keep in mind most guests will not be drinking the entire time. If you do go for a premium liquor package, you can save on costs by limiting the hours it is available and possibly start it at a later time so the liquor is available all the way until the end of the reception.

Rehearsal Dinners & Brunches: Don’t feel obligated to invite EVERYONE. You’re practically paying for another wedding if you do. Try to keep your guestlist intimate and for the people that really helped in your wedding and made an impact. The Twilight Room, in the Penthouse Restaurant, is perfect for a small intimate dinner of up to 30 people and the Skyline Room is perfect for larger parties of up to 80 guests. Both are semi private rooftop dining areas overlooking the LA cityscape with wall to wall windows and stunning panoramic views.

Hotels

Guestroom blocks: Have a good idea of how many of your out of town guests will need accommodations and also will want to stay at a hotel. Most hotels do require a contract and a credit card guarantee for special rates for room blocks. At the Huntley, we have two options of setting up arrangements for out of town guests. We can block off rooms with a credit card guarantee or extend a courtesy rate with no guarantee with no rooms will be held. Also, remember to ask about suite upgrades for the bride and groom if you plan to stay at the hotel. Each hotel has different policies, so be sure to check with the ones you’re looking into.

Take advantage of your surroundings!: There are many local attractions for out of town guests to experience while they are in town for your wedding. It’s always a good idea to choose a hotel where they can see and experience everything else the city has to offer. The Huntley Santa Monica Beach puts you just steps away from Santa Monica’s renowned “Third Street Promenade” offering a variety of shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and theatres. The beach is just a block away and you can take a bike ride up to Venice Beach along the famed Pacific Coast Highway.

Thank you Crystal! And for all you readers dying to get a little taste of Southern California, click here to enter The Huntley's 2 night stay giveaway.

The Huntley Hotel
1111 2nd Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.394.5454

Images via The Huntley Hotel.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Liz from EatCakeBeMerry

This week's Wedding Wish Wednesday comes to us from the wonderful Liz Shim, owner and head designer of EatCakeBeMerry. Liz has shared with the cinderella project some great tips for choosing your perfect wedding cake:

1) Quality Baker

Make sure you choose a great baker that will use the freshest and finest ingredients. Lots of bakeries use shortening instead of real butter, low quality cocoa, and imitation extracts to cut their costs. It's okay to ask your vendor these questions and it's always better to pay a little more for a baker that will use quality ingredients. The final product can only be as good as the ingredients that go into it.

2) Be Creative

When choosing a design for your cake, be creative and don't feel confined by trends or tradition. Cakes have greatly evolved from plain tiers with flowers to sculptures and works of art. Custom cakes are designed to reflect the bride and groom’s personality and uniqueness. So feel free to express yourself through the colors, patterns, tier shapes, and toppers. Another popular idea is to design the cake so it is consistent with the graphics and colors of your invitations. Therefore, when going in to meet your baker bring invitation samples, color palettes, themes, or photos that will help you create a perfect cake for your special day.

3) Delicious Pairings

When building the flavor profile for your wedding cake remember that simplicity is key and choose flavors that complement each other. At a tasting, you may be overwhelmed with so many delicious flavors that it's hard to choose what you want. Some brides ask for 5-6 different cake, filling, and frosting combinations! Although it may be difficult to limit yourself if everything you sample is delicious, too many competing flavors in one bite can end up disastrous. Try to keep it simple so you can really taste the distinct ingredients in the layers and if you are not sure what pairs well, ask your baker for recommendations.

(Psst - they make cupcakes too!)

So ladies - eat cake, be merry, and be married. Thank you so much Liz! And don't forget to check out Liz's blog on all the happenings at EatCakeBeMerry.


Images via EatCakeBeMerry.

J.Crew Bridal Salon

It's almost here! The J.Crew Bridal Salon! Come Wednesday June 2, Madison Avenue will play home to the first ever J.Crew Bridal Salon. Elegantly crafted with herringbone floors, custom plaster moldings, ebony wood and more, this simple and elegant salon features a carefully edited assortment of J.Crew pieces on the first floor and an appointment only bridal salon on the second.

To get your heart beating here are just a few of the Special collections carried in the salon:

• Albertus Swanepoel headpieces: Exclusive to J.Crew
• Bobbi Brown, lip-gloss
• Cosabella lingerie
• Essie, nail polish
• Fenton Fallon for J.Crew jewelry
• Histoires de Parfums
• L'Artisan, fragrance and candles
• Leah C couture veils & headpieces: exclusive to J.Crew
• Miriam Haskell for J.Crew, vintage and vintage inspired pieces
• Wolford, hosiery: 11 exclusive styles for Fall ‘10

And pampered brides will love the Special Services for the store such as:

• Champagne and sparkling water
• One on one appointments with our specialists ~ We will be your one stop, go-to specialist handle all details of your wedding and bridal party so you don’t have to—keep track of their measurements, details, who has ordered their dress, etc.
• Personal shopping to help you with all your wedding-related events and beyond from rehearsal dinner to everything you need for your honeymoon
• Surprise and delights for clients who purchase a gown
• Courier Services
• Alteration recommendations
• Special packaging—just for this store inclusive of bags, garment bags, boxes
• We’ll Find It For You – No matter what the item is, if we don’t have it available at the J.Crew Bridal Boutique, J.Crew will try to find it for you. From every retail store, to our extensive online shop, to across the globe, it will be yours - Just ask us, and we’ll find it.
• Special Wedding packet for brides ~ giving insight into everything J.Crew wedding, what we can do, what we offer, a special little takeaway.
• The 4-1-1 – Offering our recommendations for NYC brides to find cakes, flowers, wedding planners, etc. We also include a list of everything that the bride will need on her wedding day –seamless undergarments, lingerie, spanx, vintage jewelry, veils, perfume and more. We truly are a one-stop-shop for every bride.

And did I mention that Darcy Miller - yes the Darcy Miller - will be the lovely hostess of this extraordinary event? To RSVP send an email to Kate@jcrew.com.

I'm thinking of taking a trip to NYC just to see this!

Image via J.Crew.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Bergdorf Beauty Girls

So excited to share with you some helpful beauty tips from the Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Girls. Check out the following for the Big Day, made specially for the cinderella project!

Images via Bergdorf Goodman.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Tips from Carey at The Dessy Group

I'm so excited to be introducing a new segment to the cinderella project - Wedding Wish Wednesday. Yes, every day is a wedding day at the cinderella project, but I'm dedicating Wednesdays as the day to share with you the tips and advice from the experts around the wedding industry.

Our first expert, Carey from The Dessy Group wants to share her thoughts on the big day for brides and bridesmaids alike. Before we take the plunge, how about these adorable frocks in bold and bright colors? Party perfect, I say!

Top 5 Tips for Brides

• Remember that it’s you and your man’s day. Do what makes you happy and plan what you’ve always dreamed. Don’t be pressured into extra this and that by well-meaning loved ones. It’s your day to shine and you should make it the day of your dreams.

• Your budget doesn’t have to be huge. Today’s brides are embracing the DIY movement and aren’t scared to shake things up a bit. Don’t want the huge wedding cake? Opt for cute cupcakes instead-you could even make them yourself! Not into recording everyone’s preference for chicken or fish? Offer finger foods throughout the evening instead. Beyond the ease on you and your pocketbook, you get more variety!

• For the day of it’s a good idea to have a small emergency wedding day kit on hand. Include clear nail polish for those stocking runs, a small sewing kit just in case, tissues (you’ll probably need them for those happy tears), breath mints, aspirin, and a powerbar-just in case you don’t make it to the buffet early enough.

• A second pair of shoes for the reception is always a good idea. After the fabulous photos of you in your fancy heals are taken, and you’ve glided down the aisle for all to see, it’s time to get some comfort on those toes so you can dance the night away!

• Most importantly: Relax. Have Fun. You only do this big day once and the planning and day of should be a joy. If something doesn’t go as planned, have a giggle and go to plan ‘b’. Don’t sweat the little things, after all this day is to celebrate your love for each other. Share the love!

Top 5 Tips for Bridesmaids

• When planning the bachelorette party remember who you are throwing it for. If the bride to be isn’t an anything goes tequila shots and strippers sort of gal, maybe opt for a night in with the girls with martini’s and fun games.
• Be a good hostess. At the wedding reception, introduce yourselves to family and friends, and them to each other. It’ll help everyone to feel comfortable and get acquainted.
• Be the friend you always have been. If the bride becomes overwhelmed at times be a listening ear and remind her to relax and not to sweat the small stuff. It WILL all turn out just beautifully with or without the worrying!
• Dance up a storm! Get on your feet and get the party started at the reception-WooHoo!
• As a bridesmaid you have some important responsibilities-the bachelorette party, the bridal shower, emotional support-but remember it’s all in fun and to celebrate your friends next chapter in life. So, bottom line, have fun!! Tell old stories, laugh at yourselves, and take a lot of pictures to remember this great time in both of your lives.

Great advice Carey!

Images via The Dessy Group.