Introducing Vera Wang On Weddings - A Modern New Wedding Stationery Collection

Today, courtesy of Pizazz , we bring you the new collection of personalize wedding stationary from celebrity designer Vera Wang, Vera Wang on Weddings .

The Queen of Weddings has always been synonymous with style, class, and timeless elegance - all of which are reflected in her new collection of wedding invitations. Vera Wang on Weddings was created in collaboration with William Arthur Inc . of Fine Papers, and features the playful proportions and modern twist that characterize Vera Wang's bridal and fashion collections. 

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NYC Engagement Shoot Giveaway!

Win a free engagement shoot in New York City! A Bryan Photo and one of our favorite blogs, Snippet & Ink, have partnered with several other sponsors for an amazing giveaway. The prize includes an engagement/lifestyle shoot in NYC with A Bryan Photo, a gorgeous hand bound album of the shoot from Cypress Albums, an 8mm film of the shoot from A Bryan Photo and $500 travel credit from the honeymoon registry site, Traveler's Joy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to win these incredible prizes! The contest ends at midnight this Friday October 2nd. Visit the Snippet & Ink website to enter for your chance to win. For more details on the photoshoot check out A Bryan Photo's contest site. Best of luck to all of you!!

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Real Wedding ~ Kristin and Carter

Kristin and Carter found inspiration in their location and we're "hooked" on their details! Forgive us for the pun -- we just couldn't help it! Needless to say, Boca Bay in Florida is a popular fishing spot and this wedding features lots of seafaring elements. We especially love the handmade fish species placecards created by Kristin's parents and the unique centerpieces of fish netting, blue glass vases and island greenery. For a sweet dessert with Floridian flavor, check out their amazing key lime pie wedding cake, topped with limes and sugar sand. Delicious!

Credits:
Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography. Gown: Amsale. Shoes: Delman. Groom's Tie: Tarpon Tie from Vineyard Vines. Groom's Pants: Brooks Brothers. Florist: The Red Monkey Florist. Ceremony Venue: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Reception Venue: Boca Bay Pass Club. Hotel: Historic Gasparilla Inn & Club. Band: Pocket Change.

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CONCEPT TO CREATION: ELIN'S GOWN

Erika Gerdemark Photography

This is the first post of a new series where you can follow me as we look at several gowns made from start to finish. We'll kick it off by looking at Elin's gown from our initial consultation to the excitement of her wedding day. It made me so happy to see Elin married in such an enchanted setting in a gown of my creation. The back drop of the rustic old Kalmar castle in Sweden seemed a perfect match for the vintage chic of the 'Mira' Gown she chose.

We started from this sketch planning the ballerina length skirt out of six yards of silk chiffon over a full crinoline underskirt. This Chantilly lace was chosen in ivory for the bodice

Elin's gown was fashioned out of yards of fragile ivory silk chiffon and delicate lace. While most custom gowns crafted by a designer take anywhere from four to six months to complete, Elin needed her gown in two months. Despite the time crunch, we still had enough room for collaboration with decisions regarding fabric, silhouette and style. This was, as most custom gowns are: typically 80-90% handmade. Hand made means machines do some work like the side seams, cross seams, etc. There are however stitches on these one-of-a-kind gowns only expert handwork can touch in order to produce that exquisite finish

With a great deal of hand work, the bodice here is nearly complete. With all linings and boning in place, buttonhole looping has been added to the center back as silk covered buttons are sewn on.







Bodice and skirt have been joined before adding the crinoline underskirt



Voila! Elin's gown is complete with the addition of a separate underskirt and tie belt.

Elin in her gown. Doesn't she look stunning?

Erika Gerdemark Photography

Erika Gerdemark Photography

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Marie Antoinette Cake

The Issue 41 of Belle the Magazine was inspired by Sofia Cappola's movie "Marie Antoinette". And it looks like around the world more people has been inspired by this decadent theme.

Hello Lucky! recently post this amazing Marie Antoinette Wedding cake made by Cake Coquette and photographed by Sabine Schere r. The cake topper was flown in from La Durée in Paris!

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Charlotte Ritz-Carlton Grand Opening!

Ritz-Carlton is opening their first LEED built hotel in Charlotte on October 1st. The environmentally focused Ritz-Carlton Charlotte will be the first and only green hotel in the Greater Charlotte area as well as first within the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The new 146-room, 18-story hotel is located in the heart of Charlotte's thriving Uptown at College and Trade streets. In addition to dramatic skyline views and the luxury you would expect of a Ritz Carlton, it features over 12,000 square feet of function space, a bi-level penthouse spa and Wellness Center and a streetside BLT Steak restaurant.

We love the uptown locale and chic, sophisticated atmosphere. For reservations or more information regarding meetings and special events, visit The Ritz-Carlton or call 800.241.3333. Located at 201 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Images from the Ritz Carlton Charlotte website.

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Real Wedding ~ Micki and Jason

Our good friends Cristen and Scott from W. Scott Chester Photography sent us this phenomenal wedding last week via Twitter and we couldn't resist sharing it with you. Micki and Jason's fun waterside event at Lake Rabun in Georgia has so much stuff we love. The amazing scenery made for spectacular portraits and the relaxed, homespun florals and decor created by Gertie Mae's, includes Mason jars and burlap table runners. Everyone had a great time singing and dancing the night away with Bobby + The Aristocrats, including the bevy of beautiful bridemaids in their super-cute, bright green retro dresses. The florals made us take a second look at Baby's Breath, generally used as a filler flower, but used in this wedding to create airy, cotton-candy-like bouquets for Micki's maids. From the groomsmen's suits and the moss and twig ring pillow to the cake made by Epting Events and the ringbearer's fedora, there are so many fantastic details.

For more incredible images of Micki and Jason's wedding, check out the W. Scott Chester Photography Blog. Enjoy!

Credits:
Photographer: W. Scott Chester Photography. Gown: Marisa. Veil: Handmade. Caterer and Cake: Epting Events. Florist: Gertie Mae's. Band: Bobby + The Aristocrats.

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THE LIGHTWEIGHTS: A CLOSER LOOK AT SHEER FABRICS

Stephanie Williams Photography

What could be more feminine on a bride than lightweight, sheer fabrics. They have an airy, wispy look and feel that sets a light tone. While we're looking towards Winter, I know a lot of you are contemplating Spring 2010 weddings. Take a look at some of these gowns.

Digital She/Sweet Light Studios
Embossed silk chiffon gown with silk gauze train.

Chiffon-Lightweight and transparent, the delicacy of this fabric makes it best for billowing sleeves, cowl draped necklines, ruffles, ruched bodices and long, airy trains. See-through dresses worn over slips can be made of chiffon. Full skirts in chiffon are ethereal and can be layered.

























Ron Greystar Photography
Lace and chiffon gown with detachable organza train dappled with rose petals

Organza-Shown above and below, organza is a light, springy and transparent fabric. Once considered suitable only for summer, organza is now year-round and widely used in gowns requiring full skirts, A-lines, trains, veils, drapes and overlays.

Stephanie Williams Photography
All over embroidered chiffon dress with full skirt

Ron Greystar Photography
Tulle-Fine mesh netting with hexagonal pattern that comes in silk or nylon. Tulle is standard material for bridal veils. Also used in bouffant skirts like the one pictured above, proffering that ballerina look Vera Wang popularized a few years back. While the big tulle skirt is classic, edgier versions of late suggest special effects like draping, rouching and pick-up treatments over more modified skirt silhouettes. Not to be overlooked for trains done in layers.

All gowns by Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

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Vera Wang Fall 2009

Fall is here, so I remember that a few months a go I saw Vera Wang Bridal Collection Fall 2009 and I taught it represents autumn in such a really fabulous way.

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Real Wedding ~ Angela and Rob

Jenna Walker's spectacular images of Angela and Rob's amazing destination wedding has us all pining for a tropical getaway. The two married on the beautiful beaches of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and hosted an exquisite event planned by our longtime friends at WED, based in Charleston, SC. We love the citrusy palette of yellow and green, seen in everything from the event stationery and cake to the florals and tabletop decor. We especially loved the bright parasols given to arriving guests to shade them from the tropical sun and the glittering pailette-embellished linens.

Credits:
Photographer: Jenna Walker Photographers. Event Planner: Weddings Elegantly Designed. Ceremony Venue: Hawksnest Beach. Reception Venue: Villa South Palm.

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