A HEAD OF THE TIMES

Amsale

Never have brides had so much leeway when it comes to headwear. 2010 marks a time when choosing you put on top of your head will add pizazz to your overall look. Thanks to those designers getting creative with netting, florals and plumes, the bride has so, so many options.

Oscar de la Renta

Pancake hat wrapped in netting.
Jenny Packham

A little bit of vintage to go with the evening gown look.

Lia McNairy and Antonio Gual

Light and airy, a headband of feathers would work for a Spring as well as Winter wedding.

Carolina Hererra

One of the great introductions this year by Carolina Herrera is the straw hat (she put out several) wrapped in ivory point d'spirit netting. Stunning . . .

Platinum

Getting ready for winter weddings this hat is a toasty charmer as well as chic.

Carolina Herrera

Another Carolina Herrera revival: The plume. It proffers a touch of the sophisticate as well as pure whimsy. Plumes are particularly flattering for the petite bride wanting to add some length to her look. Try a plume also if you're going with more of an evening gown look.


Amsale

This headband would pair up nicely with Amsale's clean-lined gowns

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Win A Pair of Bliss Bridal Shoes!

We all know that Fridays make the Weddings Unveiled team just want to give away some free stuff. Well, T.G.I.F.!!

Tamara Connell, the lovely designer of Bliss Bridal Shoes has partnered with Weddings Unveiled to give one lucky lady her favorite pair of shoes from the main Collection or the Limited Edition Collection. Click here to view the collections online. Which pair will you pick? Some of our favorites are the sexy platform Trulli (pictured below) from the main Collection and Sociale (also pictured below), an ultra-chic, jeweled pump from the Limited Edition Collection. Bliss Bridal Shoes are also dye-able, so even if you're not getting married, you can pick your favorite pair and have them dyed to match your favorite dress.

Wanna win this well-heeled prize? Ok, then here's the deal. We want you to tell us about your favorite pair of shoes in the world. Of all the shoes you have ever owned, which ones were, or are your absolute most beloved. Think jellys when you were little, patent leather Easter shoes, your one and only pair of indulgently expensive designer shoes or even your most comfortable slippers. The winner must be a Completely Unveiled blog follower, so if you aren't following us already, be sure to start! To win, leave a comment with your favorite shoe answer and we'll announce the winner on Friday, August 14th. In addition to our Weddings Unveiled staffers, Tamara will also be reading all the entries to help us select a winner.

Good luck and happy weekend!!

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Do Not Disturb ~ Encore Las Vegas

The vows have been spoken, the last glass of champagne has been raised and the last dance has been captured on film. All you want to do now is fall into bed, close the shades, hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and cuddle with your new spouse. It's finally time to relax and enjoy your long-awaited honeymoon. Needless to say, there are tons of amazing places across the globe where couples can unwind, let loose and go completely undisturbed if they please.

In every issue of Weddings Unveiled, our staple article Do Not Disturb highlights an extraordinary property where couples can get away. To share more of these gorgeous locales with you, we have decided to feature them here on Completely Unveiled. With this, our first Do Not Disturb post, we visit fabulous and glitzy Las Vegas and recently opened Wynn property, Encore.

Article from Summer 2009 Issue of Weddings Unveiled Magazine, written by Brooke Thomas.

Vegas, baby. At the risk of sounding like a total cliché, it’s hard to resist a trip to Sin City. Where else can you wear sunglasses inside, party like a rock star all night on a Tuesday and feel absolutely no guilt about the “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging on your door the entire next day? Oh yes, let’s not forget the charming fact that in Vegas, you can actually get married within minutes to someone you just met at The Hard Rock. I can’t get behind the idea of marriage at 3am at some version of the Chapel of Love with an Elvis impersonator to give you away, but I’m completely on board with Las Vegas for a terrifically luxe, deliciously sexy romp of a honeymoon and the newly opened Encore Las Vegas is all the excuse anyone could need.

Situated right next to the legendary Wynn Las Vegas, Encore is Steve Wynn’s new signature resort. With interior design crafted by Wynn’s in-house designer, Roger Thomas, Encore’s immediate impression is one of modern opulence with a surprisingly light, fanciful twist in the form of butterflies, found throughout the property in a variety of forms. Giant Swarovski crystal butterflies hang from the ceiling, while others are inlaid in vibrant Venetian glass mosaics on the floors. Natural light fills the resort and lush, towering atria create a brilliant, sunlit atmosphere. The expansive pools can be seen from throughout the property and the space feels like a collection of intimate environments, each distinct and inviting. While the luxury is certainly expected, the décor is full of surprises, including countless antique, vintage and custom pieces and layered combinations of textures and historical references. A sculpted interpretation of the goddess Daphne forms the centerpiece of the Lobby Bar & Café and the Host Lounge was modeled after the Temple of Dendur, a Nubian temple built by Petronius, the Roman governor of Egypt around 15BC. The pocket doors in the baccarat lounge are covered in a peacock design embroidered on gold and green silk, a motif borrowed from James Abbot McNeill Whistler, whose Peacock Room can be seen at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

Encore boasts two separate check-in areas, each designed to pamper arriving guests, who are met with ice-cold bottled water and warm towels from silver trays to freshen their face and hands. The resort accommodations are made up of 2,034 rooms, ranging in size from up to 700 square feet for the Resort Rooms and up to 5,800 square feet for the Tower Suites. The rooms are a haven in a clean, calmingly neutral palette of ebony and cream and stylish, modern furniture and casegoods. Encore’s suites feature the largest flat screen television used in any standard guestroom in the U.S. and just in case you don’t want to get out of bed, you’ll find a control panel on the beside table for the lighting, the drapes and (of course) the privacy notice on the front door. The bathrooms are well-stocked with spa-quality toiletries, plush towels, a smaller (bathroom-sized) flat screen and his and hers robes. Though fashionably luxe amenities abound, the best part of the room is revealed at twilight, when the floor-to-ceiling windows stretching across the entire expanse of the sitting area give way to an unrivaled view of the glittering Vegas strip.

Five signature restaurants form an eclectic mix of dining at Encore, each with a distinct personality and cuisine. Sinatra, obviously named for Ol’ Blue Eyes, features a modern Italian menu set amidst (what else?) Sinatra tunes. Wazuzu, whose name references a well-known 16th century painting of nine young dragons, serves pan-Asian cuisine beneath a 27-foot, 3-dimensional crystal dragon made of 90,000 Swarovski crystals and 2,400 flickering lights. Don’t miss an opportunity to try the Wazuzu Smash, Wazuzu’s signature cocktail made from kusu sochu, orchid mango liqueur, freshly muddled pineapple, yuzu, calpico and ginger syrup. Possibly my favorite dining option at Encore is Switch, located right by the atrium. The French-inspired seafood and steakhouse fare is fantastic (be sure to try the Bordeaux braised beef short ribs), but the atmosphere is unlike any other. It’s one part restaurant and one part theater, with a healthy dose of Vegas thrown in. What I mean is that Vegas always carries a certain amount of you’ve-never-seen-anything-like-this-before entertainment and at Switch, that’s exactly what you get. While you dine, the atmosphere is literally changing around you. The walls slide, lower and move every 20 minutes to “switch” the entire look of the restaurant, with the lighting and music following suit to match. Society Café serves up an imaginative American menu from breakfast through late night and be sure to try the bold cuisine at Botero for dinner, located adjacent to XS, Encore’s ultra-hip, high-energy nightclub. True to its name, XS is an after-dark poolside hot spot and a line forms pretty much as soon as it opens. The décor is modern, but plush, with white leather banquettes lining the curving walls and a ten-foot rotating chandelier over the dance floor.

If seated entertainment is more your speed, Encore is not without its own headlining attraction. Forego the lounge acts and cheesy, high-ticket has-beens and instead, go see Le Rêve at the Wynn Theatre. Le Rêve is the name of a centerpiece Picasso owned by Steve Wynn and means “The Dream” in French. The show itself is a mesmerizing performance of a romantic story of love, loss and redemption. It features a dramatic combination of diving, acrobatics, dance and feats of strength with state-of-the-art special effects, set in a one-million-gallon capacity aquatic theater where no seat is more than 40 feet from the stage. It is incredibly moving and sexy in a Cirque de Soleil-type way, with over half of the performance actually under water. The performers are treated as professional athletes with vigorous training and rehearsal schedules. Each member of the cast must become scuba-certified before performing in the theater and if you can believe it, each performance of Le Rêve requires 1,600 towels.

The 2nd floor of Encore is dedicated to the nearly 70,000 square foot Spa and Salon at Encore, designed by Todd-Avery Lenahan. The lavish setting is dramatic, yet calm and relaxing, thanks mostly to a soft neutral palette dominated by golds, bronzes and creams. The combination of limestone and natural light is accented by soft, overstuffed furniture, sparkling walls of bronze mirror, champagne colored Venetian glass chandeliers and flowing water. Each space is a spectacle in its own right, from the dramatically vaulted, glass-enclosed courtyard entrance to the spectacular treatment room hallway, carpeted in a $250,000 runner, flanked by four-foot lanterns and culminating in a giant Buddha statue at its end. The Spa features 37 treatment rooms, 14 garden suites and four oversized couples’ suites for massage, body treatments and facials. There are also two movement studios with spinning, yoga, pilates, conditioning and meditation classes. Once inside the treatment rooms, you can even choose a lighting color to suit your mood. The Spa’s signature treatment is naturally called the Good Luck Ritual Massage, based on the five elements of Feng Shui. The 80 minute massage combines heated Thai herbs, a lemon verbena and peppermint foot exfoliation, an ultra-moisturizing hand therapy and a wild lime botanical scalp treatment. Also try the Lavender Stone Ritual, which includes a mild body exfoliation with sea salt and Lavender grains and alternating hot and cold stone therapy.

The Salon has 14 styling stations, eight pedicure thrones and six manicure tables, providing a variety of services from haircuts and up-dos to manicures and pedicures, featuring product lines such as Kerastase, Ahava and Shu Uemura. In addition, the Salon at Encore has a private room with styling stations and pedicure thrones and can accommodate groups, wedding parties and private gatherings of up to 40 people.

Have I really managed to get this far without mentioning the casino? Of course there’s a casino, though it’s unobtrusive, as crazy as that may seem. In fact, the games are arranged so that you almost don’t even know they’re there. However, unlike the calming neutral palette of the hotel, the casino is red, red, red. Red like gaming chips, red like lipstick, or just…well… red. Don’t get me wrong, it’s gorgeous. Ok, it’s gorgeous for a casino. Instead of the vast, smoky space that defines most casinos, Encore’s casino is a departure from conventional gaming. Drawn curtains, columned pavilions and canopies surround and separate gaming areas into what seem like a private, intimate chambers and slots are kept to a minimum. The butterfly motif continues with views of the pool or gardens throughout and the feel is actually comfortable, making the casino at Encore a bright, sophisticated version of Vegas’ most famous form of entertainment.

If you do find yourself getting married in Vegas, let’s hope it’s to someone you’ve known for more than half an hour and let’s hope it’s at Encore, where you’ll find 60,000 square feet of easily configurable event space, including an expansive, column-free ballroom. Weddings and parties are often held poolside, surrounded by sculpted gardens and sparkling wading pools made of mosaic tiles. Yes, it’s true that planned weddings do occur in Las Vegas and even artfully planned ones happen at Encore. However, allow me to say now that if you find me poolside at Encore, it’s unlikely I’ll be wearing a wedding gown, especially since I’m already married. Look for me in one of the twenty-nine oh-so-posh cabanas. I’ll be the girl in Ray-Bans, Wazuzu Smash in hand, happily still counting last night’s winnings. BMT

Encore Las Vegas
888.320.7125

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How Do We Thank Thee....

This Thursday we would like to thank these amazing peeps for keeping the Weddings Unveiled love alive! Stop by and check them out!

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A Special Thank You

It's not every day one of our fabulous editors and creative director gets featured online, so when it happens we absolutely have to share it! Weddings Unveiled extends a very special and very heartfelt thank you to Leila Khalil of Be Inspired PR for this absolutely wonderful feature and interview of our creative director, Brooke Thomas, on her blog Inspired By This. Please be sure to stop by her site and leave a comment!

July 27th, 2009
"Today I want to share with you the behind the scenes of Weddings Unveiled, an amazing Southern wedding magazine that is led by its talented, creative director, Brooke Thomas. If you haven’t checked out the mag yet, run and get a copy, the images are absolutely stunning! In addition to its high distribution in the Southeast, Weddings Unveiled is distributed nationally in major bookstore chains such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Books a Million. They have readers from all over the country. Subscriptions and copies can also be purchased on their website here or on Amazon.com!

Brooke sent us the below information about what inspires her and her work at the magazine.

“As the Creative Director of Weddings Unveiled Magazine — I handle all things creative, from the direction, focus and layout of each issue, to producing specific editorials to editing each story our writers submit. I’m also the Co-Founder and Co-Publisher, which means that I lend a hand on the business end as well. I also direct and manage our Blog, Completely Unveiled at www.weddingsunveiledblog.blogspot.com. Anne Marie Ashley and Emily Howard are our regular staff bloggers.

I grew up in a very small town in North Carolina. I graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. I am also a graduate of Davidson College, where I studied English Literature and Art History. I am married to a gorgeous, amazing man who is also a chef. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe and in particular, I love the Scottish Highlands. Among many things, a few of my loves are my mother’s and my husband’s cooking, my new Nina Ricci platform peep-toe pumps, Beat literature, Jane Austen novels, paintings by Modigliani, photography by Neal Preston, large pearl earrings, driving gloves, the Musee d’Orsay, Bald Head Island, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Giambattista Valli, Roland Mouret, vintage jewels and silver tea sets found at the Metrolina Expo and 1968 Camaros. (Side note from Leila- how amazing is her taste? the magazine is a pure reflection of it.. LOVE it)

I’m always inspired by my upbringing and the beautiful, pastoral area where I grew up. I’m inspired by my parents and the values they taught me and I have always hoped to make them proud. I’m also inspired by my two wonderful sisters and the rest of my very large family. We have lots of family gatherings and everyone loves Weddings Unveiled. My middle sister is currently engaged and we are all in the midst of planning her wedding in Charleston, SC. When thinking about inspiration for the overall look of an issue, I often take inspiration from the season and from our Southern region and its food, style and culture.

I’m known for the styling of our fashion editorials and for the style/fashion personality that I bring to Weddings Unveiled. I think that I have a unique viewpoint and our Weddings Unveiled fashion editorials and covers are unlike those of any other bridal magazine. I love bridal fashion of course, but also love ready-to-wear and rtw pieces often show up in our fashion editorials. I especially love the Ports 1961 dress appearing in our current issue (Summer 2009). I have often been characterized as having an “edgy take on classic style” and I think that’s a good way to describe my style, though sometimes, like any stylist, it varies with my inspiration. I do like classic and sophisticated, intelligent silhouettes, but I also like to style them with an edge that is sometimes a little vintage, sometimes a little tough-girl rock ‘n roll and sometimes very prim and ladylike, depending on my mood and inspiration at the moment. I’m inspired by so many things when it comes to fashion that it’s difficult to narrow it down.”

Here are some of the images from the fashion spread in the current issue! I’m in LOVE with them!

Thank you Brooke for being so real about you and the voice behind Weddings Unveiled for my readers. You are the greatest and your magazine is an inspiration to us all!"

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HOW TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR BRIDESMAIDS

A real drama queen by maia-arts featuring casadei shoes

Though there's a whole panacea of gift ideas in these sets, sometimes the best gift you can give your bridesmaid and/or maid of honor is the dress itself. I had a single bridesmaid in my wedding amongst a pack kids in taffeta. Other than a few purple sashes and tartans, it was an all white wedding with my maid in a simple white silk dupioni sheath. That dress was a gift. A year later when her boyfriend proposed, she wore that same bridesmaid dress for her own wedding. I was totally honored. Thus, I would never have asked her to pay for the dress and to this day she claims it was her greatest wedding present.

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summer collection by soulaima /NO SMOKING/ featuring Fendi bags

Untitled by kimmdavis featuring Dior accessories

Customary gift from bride to her maids is a stunner piece of jewelry. You can also say thank you in the form of perfume, Ray Bans and whole gamut of goodies found below.

pure by JessyM featuring Lipsy

Untitled by pettyd featuring Antica Murrina jewelry









There's no freshness. There's no originality by ♡•SimplyMoi•♡ Blazers Contest featuring Versace shoes







Happy Birthday Violet Peach!! by Natalcia♥(away) featuring Alexander McQueen shoes



Lovely Mermaid by BookwormForever! featuring Jessica Simpson shoes













Untitled by cappy featuring Forever21 accessories



Untitled by pettyd featuring Alexander McQueen accessories

Mello Yellow by ✰ Xaylia ✰ featuring Monsoon

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Real Wedding ~ Megan & Mihir

It's no secret that cheesy wedding videography is sooooo over. These days, brides and grooms are looking for something that's a little more.... well, cinematic. That being said, we love love love (soundtrack, anyone?) 8mm and we couldn't wait to share this amazing clip of Megan and Mihir's Wedding at Lowndes Grove in Charleston, SC filmed by A Bryan Photo. The event was styled by Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events. Megan and Mihir seem like the most fun couple ever! Check out their ultra-cool sunglasses and Megan's super-cute getaway dress! Enjoy!

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Real Wedding ~ Mark and Emily

Mark and Emily's Manteo, NC wedding was sent to us by our wonderful friend Kellie Kano, whose inspired photography we have always loved. In a beautiful example of runway to real way, Emily's sparkling gown by famed designer Reem Acra, has also been featured in a gorgeous Weddings Unveiled fashion editorial after our Creative Director, Brooke Thomas, fell in love with it at Reem's show. In addition, Brooke also says that the "gate" image from this wedding is one of her favorite wedding images ever. Thanks so much to Kellie for sharing this amazing work.

Credits:
Photography: Kellie Kano. Catering: 1587 Restaurant. Reception: NC Aquarium. Gown: Reem Acra.

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Real Wedding ~ Julia and Graham

We adore the luxe details and lush florals in Julia and Graham's coastal SC wedding, sent to us (and designed by!) the amazing Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events, whose work also appears in the Summer 2009 issue of Weddings Unveiled. Julia is radiant in Carolina Herrera amidst a palette of pale sage greens and masses of white flowers. The enchanting tented reception at the Carriage House at Litchfield Plantation is punctuated by towering arrangements and crystal-embellished chandeliers hanging from a romantic fabric-draped ceiling.

Credits:
Photography: Banner Radin Photography. Coordinator: Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events in Charleston, SC. Gown: Carolina Herrera. Bridesmaid Dresses: Badgley Mischka. Florist: Blossoms Events. Catering and Reception site: Carriage House at Litchfield Plantation. Baker: Elaine’s Events, Cakes of Distinction . Party Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals. Chandeliers: Blue Moon Events. Lighting: Production Design Associates. Invitations: Paces Papers. Favors: Henri’s Bakery.

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Real Wedding ~ Sarah and Dan

We are thrilled to share this real wedding photographed by our long-time friend, the talented Marni Rothschild in Charleston, SC. Sarah and Dan's reception at The Historic Rice Mill was the perfect Southern venue for their lovely pink and green May affair. Guests took rickshaws from the ceremony at The Legare-Waring House over to the scenic waterfront where they enjoyed a family- style service of BBQ chicken sliders, Lowcountry shrimp and grits and beef tenderloin on biscuit rounds with orange currant chutney from Good Food Catering. We're in love with the ecclectic Fuji mum spheres floating from the tree branches and the bright pink and green pillows accenting chic white ottomans. We also adore the exposed brick and gorgeous ceilings of the Rice Mill, not to mention the breathtaking view.

Credits:
Coordinator: A Charleston Bride. Photography: Marni Rothschild. Florist: A Charleston Bride. Ceremony: Legare-Waring House. Reception: The Historic Rice Mill. Caterer: Good Food Catering; Baker: Elaine's Events Cakes of Distinction, Equipment Rental: Snyder, BBJ Linens, & A Charleston Bride, Trolly Transportation: Absolutely Charleston. Rickshaw Transportation: Charleston Rickshaw, Invitations: Vera Wang

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PURITY

For brides looking for simple silhouettes in magnificent fabric look to
Acquachiara an Italian design house run by the talented Daniela Basile. Her philosophy is about as close to my own as any designer I've found yet: She believes the right gown is worn like a second skin. These seem not only to be worn as a skin as much as the bride's whole essence . . .

Photos courtesy Vogue Sposa

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