Sneak Peek of the J.Crew Bridal Salon

Gorgeous dresses . . .

. . . gilded letters and peach roses . . .



. . . rainbow colored bridesmaid dresses . . .



. . . satin oxford peep toe pumps and vintage jewels . . .



. . . chiffon rosettes and Swarovski crystal clutches . . .



. . . peonies and chandeliers plus white dresses with black sashes.

For more information on the J.Crew Bridal Salon, click here. And for your chance to say "I Do" with J.Crew and Martha Stewart, click here to enter their fashionable sweepstakes!

Perfect Combinations

What's life without a little J.Crew . . .

. . . and Martha Stewart?

Images via J.Crew and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Fab Frocks Friday: Cover Girls and Butterflies

Hope you have a lovely long weekend. And don't forget to pick up the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings on newsstands May 31st!

I'll be reading mine on the way to NYC for the big J. Crew Bridal Salon unveil and a few other happening wedding events. Next week - dispatches from NYC - so excited, I cannot wait!

A few lovely links to tide you over til next week . . .

• Many congratulations on the new bundle of joy over at A Cup of Jo
• Will this pretty be at the J.Crew Bridal Salon?
• Get connected
• Thank you's the DIY way

Image via Martha Stewart Weddings.

The (purely paper) Flower Shoppe by David Stark

I'm always thrilled to see the awe inspiring creations from David Stark. David has the most ingenious way of using everyday objects and transform them into something truly amazing.

Like this absolutely adorable purely paper flower pop up shoppe at west elm in Brooklyn. David and his team collected discarded books from across Brooklyn and used the pages to create this flower shoppe.

So charming!

Images via David Stark Sketchbook.

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.

Package Makes Perfect

Who doesn't love presents - especially ones that look like these! I must confess - I enjoy wrapping gifts more than receiving them. Chalk it up to my Martha Stewart tendencies which I honed at at early age whilet working the gift wrapping counter at my local department store. There's just something about wrapping up your package in a smart and stylish way that gets my creative juices flowing - wouldn't you agree ladies?

Which is why I love these smart design from Claridges, London that take the idea of packaging and gifts to a new dimension.

Rather than spending all the bucks on big and fancy wedding favors that may be relegated to the re-gifting corner, think of the many simple everyday objects in your life that can be re-imagined for a cohesive look to your wedding. Maybe, instead of monogramming every aspect of the wedding think of a unique design element to bring everything together.

Your favorite No. 2 pencil gets a designer's makeover complete with complimentary colored eraser. A classic white tote looks so stylish and charming with a few added design touches. Simple everyday items dressed up in a new way.

The ordinary becomes extraordinary.


Images via TheDieline.com

Peace, Love & Understanding

Because all we really need is a little Peace, Love & Understanding!

If you're like me you love the beauty and intricacy of calligraphy. Now you can wear the beautiful work of art in a new and original scarf from Bernard Maisner and Echo Design Group. Each limited edition scarf is wearable art, voicing a message of Peace, Love & Understanding to the world. This message of hope and optimism is one that everyone can relate to. Maisner’s beautiful letterforms are screen printed on a delicate lightweight 100% wool scarf, combining the vision of an iconic artist and a world class design house.

A fitting gift for any occasion!

Image via Bernard Maisner.

Fab Frocks Friday: Wedding Gowns and Grand Spaces

. . . and lovely links for the weekend read . . .

• Inspiration: Perfectly Ornate
  
• A must see collection from Christian Dior Resort 2011
• These take the cake
  
• Are you up with love?
• Bridesmaids revisited
  

Images via Rivini.

These Lights Will Inspire You

If you're ever in Las Vegas I highly recommend stopping by the Cartier boutique in the new City Center - and not just for the diamonds! It's there I saw one of the most beautiful chandeliers I had ever seen.

Take a few steps into the store and you're greeted by a magnificent chandelier floating in the air. Take a few more steps and you'll see each individual Swarovski crystal candle is perfectly suspended in air by a thin piece of steel wire. It's quite the masterpiece and absolutely breathtaking, to say the least.

And the genius' behind this art? Windfall Contemporary Crystal Lighting. Their clientele is a Who's Who of luxury's elite like Cartier, Mont Blanc, and The Savoy, London, just to name a few. Here's a look at some of their other installations from around the world:

Inspired. Are you?

Images via Windfall Contemporary Crystal Lighting

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.