ABC Meeting with Mike Colón and David Jay

The Association of Bridal Consultants is hosting a local networking meeting on Wednesday, June 9th from 11:30am-3:00pm at the beautiful Watercolor Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Don't miss this amazing event featuring David Jay and Mike Colón as guest speakers. Attendees will also receive a copy of the gorgeous Spring 2010 issue of Weddings Unveiled. For more details and to register for the event, click here.

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Real {Destination} Wedding ~ Brittney and Jordan

Today's destination wedding is from all the way across the country in San Diego, CA, where Brittney and Jordan's sophisticated affair at The Grand Del Mar was photographed by Anika London. The event was designed in a palette of black, white and varied shades of violet, ranging from pale lavender to dark magenta. Brittney wore a lovely strapless gown by Vera Wang with layers of sheer netting and a silver metallic and black grosgrain belt. She wore metallic sequined ballet flats by Jimmy Choo and carried a bouquet of white gardenia and peonies. Her bridesmaids wore black strapless cocktail dresses and carried vibrant bouquets of mixed purple blooms with leafy green collars and bold taffeta wrapping, while Jordan and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos with black bowties and boutonnieres made from a single gardenia.

White petals and clear glass columns set with white pillar candles lined the ceremony aisle, giving the church a soft candlelight glow. We love the pretty ceremony programs printed on white paper with a black damask motif and tied together with black satin ribbon. The tables were dressed in crisp white linens and gold chargers for the reception at The Grand Del Mar. Gold chivari chairs and groupings of flickering votives added a warm accent to the low centerpiece arrangements made in a variety of purple blooms. Don't miss the candy bar, featuring apothecary jars filled with delicious treats and the couple's exquisite four-tier wedding cake with ornate floral piping. To see more of Brittney and Jordan's ultra-luxe California wedding, visit the Anika London blog.

Credits:
Photography: Anika London. Venue: The Grand Del Mar. Wedding Coordinator: Julie Scrivener of The Best Wedding For You. DJ: Mick Scrivener of Elite British DJ. Ceremony Music: Caprice Strings. Cocktail Hour Music: Miles Moynier.

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THE PRE-OWNED GOWN OPTION

Pre-owned Wedding Dresses.com

Want a top-of-the-line couture look on your wedding day but don't think you can shell out the bucks for a  designer label?  Well, check out these gowns from Pre-owned Wedding Dresses.com where you can actually order online.  You can also visit consignment a bridal shop. Now if the word 'consignment' conjours images of 1980s gowns full of the usual pouf and paste of sequins, perish that thought. Most dresses in consignment shops are actually cutting edge and you'll find it more like going to a high-end designer salon. With catchy names like One More Time, these places offer some elegant, gently worn gowns in better shape than your average designer sample. In fact, the proprietors can get real persnickety about what they take in—some only accepting top designer names like Vera Wang and Reem Acra in all natural fibers. In addition, once gowns are accepted they’re cleaned and pressed (Ask where though. More shops are specializing in environmentally safe cleaning)

Pre-owned Wedding Dresses

If you’re price conscious going for a pre-owned gown is the way to go. Gowns that retailed last season for $3000-4000 are typically half off but sometimes can go for as little as $500-600. More good news. You’re going to get very personalized assistance—the same as in a full service bridal salon. Though there will be re-altering involved, you won’t have to wait 4-6 months for your gown. Bear in mind once-worn gowns have already been pre-fit and altered to someone else’s body. Just make sure they’re once-worn; an over altered dress that’s been on more than one body could lose its original shape after a while. Ask how many and what kind of alterations the gown you want has had. Typically, if it’s gone through more than two brides, forget it. In addition to alterations your shop may offer customizing services (for a fee). Shops realize with previously-worn gowns, there’s a kind of possessive energy the new purchaser wants to create to make the gown her own. Therefore some shops focus on customizing.

FYI: Naturally bridal consignment shops don’t stock set sizes like salons do. Small and larger brides might have to work closely with staff and keep a lookout locating a gown in their size

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BLUSHING BRIDE

Credits: Olivia Leigh, W. Scott Chester Photography, Marla Aufmuth, Orchard Cove Photography, Myrtle & Marjoram, Koelle Art via Poppytalk, Dollface Studio

Special thanks to Shana Wilson over at SMP Style Circle for putting together these delicate Spring inspirations for us.  Particularly love the gossamer feel of all the apparel shown here.  You can find all kinds of chic and cutting edge ideas on her blog, Baubles and Bubbles .

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VINTAGE SUNSET

I hope this board inspires a vintage feeling in all of you looking toward a Gatsbyesque or Hollywood style wedding.  The pale salmons and beiges suggest sepia tones evocative of the start of the last century when lace and intricate embroidery applications were more commonly used.  If you can find just one vintage item or accessory to work into your wedding day it will make a real difference sentimentally (especially if the item is passed down from a loved one) as well as adding panache to your look . . .

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Mac & Murphy "Be Our First" Giveaway

Charleston paper company, Mac & Murphy have entered the world of happily ever after with their exclusive save-the-dates, shower invitations, thank you notes and wedding invitations. They're the perfect one-stop-shop for all your wedding paper needs with classically chic, modern designs. To celebrate their new venture into the weddings, they want one lucky couple to be their very first wedding client. Mac & Murphy has partnered with 3.14 PIES, Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer and Lella Foster Designs to put together an amazing goodie bag, including a $400 dollar credit towards a custom invitation package of your choice from select wedding albums at Mac & Murphy, a free portrait session with Charlotte Elizabeth Photographer, 50% off your order of designer pies from 3.14 PIES and a custom set of earrings designed by Lella Foster Designs. To win this amazing prize, submit your one page love story to Mac & Murphy by 5:00pm EST today! Here are the details:

• Each love story entry must be one page or less and include your wedding date, contact information and a recent picture of you and your fiance.
• Winner must redeem or book appointment by September 1, 2010.
• Submission must be received via email write@macandmurphy.com by 5:00pm EST, Friday, May 28th.
• Winner will be announced on the Mac & Murphy blog at 12:00pm EST, Monday, June 7th.

Start working on your entry now, because you don't want to miss out on this amazing giveaway from Mac & Murphy!

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Real Wedding ~ Crystal and Rae

Crystal and Rae's gorgeous Atlanta, GA nuptials were photographed by our good friends Cristen and Scott of W. Scott Chester photography. Crystal wore a chic strapless column gown with beaded and crystal embellishments at the waist and long, dramatic train for the church ceremony. She carried a cascading bouquet of white orchids and wore glittering crystal-embellished heels. Her bridesmaids wore cocktail dresses and carried bold red clutched, while the groomsmen and his groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos with ascots. Crystal changed into a form fitting trumpet silhouette gown for the reception with a tiered skirt and floral detailing. She added a feathered fascinator to her hair and a long, sleek clutch. Dreamy Gelato provided fun treats for the party and a smilebooth made for endless entertainment and priceless images. At the end of the evening, Crystal surprised Rae with a second line brass band flown in from New Orleans to help celebrate in New Orleans style. To see more of Crystal and Rae's Georgia wedding, visit W. Scott Chester's newly redesigned blog!

Credits:
Photography: W. Scott Chester. Wedding Gown: Justin Alexander Couture. Shoes: Bourne. Reception Gown: Allure. Invitations: The Bee Paperie. Programs: Wanted Freelance Design. Wedding Coordinator: Wedding Soirée. Videography: Three Ring Weddings. Band: The Stooges from New Orleans. Dessert: Dreamy Gelato.

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ONCE UPON A TIME

One of the nicer aspects of aging would have to be 'remembering when' and actually seeing ads like these in daily papers back in the 1970s when  fashion illustrations were still the norm.  Thanks to Wendy Hartigan of Bridal Affairs in Philadelphia,we have these great fashion illustrations..  She sent me these clippings along with some editorials from Bride's from her mother's files. The above photo of the bride in a helmet-like headpiece and waterfall veil is from the late sixties; the bottom image late seventies when the gypsy-chic of Oscar de la Renta and YSL was all the rage; this is the era I cut my teeth in . . .

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Bird and Banner

We're swooning over Bird and Banner's ridiculously pretty wedding papers. Graphic Designers, Erin and Nicole realize every couple has a unique story and each piece is designed with the couple in mind. They created the design of your wedding stationery by folding in elements that could inlcude ideas from the first time you met to your engagement story. Unique materials are combined with beautiful typography to share each couple's unique personality with their guests and setting the tone for the big day. We've included a few of our favorite custom designs from Bird and Banner, but visit their website to see all their work and contact them to start working on your story.

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