Showing posts with label Attire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Attire. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Wedding Trend: Fascinators


More interesting than the actual royal wedding itself, were the hats i.e. fascinators that all the ladies were wearing.  I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted a young lady wearing a fascinator at our first wedding this year.  I wonder what we'll see at upcoming weddings this year and next?



Fascinators have been around since the 17th century when the use of wigs was quite common. For women, the addition of feathers and other small trinkets, were usually found adorning their wigs around this time. In the mid to late 1700's, wigs were not in use as much as before, and instead were being replaced by bonnets and mobcaps. Feathers, jewels and and cameo's were used to adorn the bonnets. Hair pieces were used as a flirtatious gesture considering the strict code between men and women that were not yet married. The Victorian era saw an abundance of fascinators and the trend stayed well into the 1960s before it trickled off for a while, just recently making a comeback. The British royal family has a role in the way the public has been viewing fascinators as of late. Fascinators are a lovely addition for a special occasion, and are quite frequently seen at weddings. As for "hats" in general, it's hard to say the moment they began to exist, but history shows that with the fascinators came the great obsession with hats. The 1700's saw the majority of this growth in popularity and it was in this era that the term "milliner" became exceedingly known due to the overwhelming increase of women's fashions and that included hats. Until that point, men had dominated the majority of head fashions, stemming from the beginning of the term "milliner" in the 1500's. 




Bridal head coverings originally symbolized wealth and posterity in a community. Before hats and fascinator's though, the wedding vail has been used for quite some time. Originally, a veil would be used to conceal a person's face so that her arranged marriage could withstand the ceremony without the groom knowing what she looked like. Then, they became used to symbolize purity. 



courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com





Sunday, May 8, 2011

Something Blue

Last, but not least is "Something Blue."


I love all the unique touches and details that can be captured by these four traditions!  What is going to be your something blue?


Reese Witherspoon wore a blush colored dress, how about a pale blue dress?  



Christian Louboutin?  Yes Please!!!! 

Finally, an inspiration board full of all things beautiful & blue...

courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Something Borrowed

"Something Borrowed" is probably my favorite of the four wedding traditions.  I love incorporating someone else's treasure into your day to make it extra personal.  From your sister's wedding shoes to your best friends necklace to your mother's garter...each detail is unique to you and I love that!

...chunky necklaces are all the rage right now!


Or you could borrow something more classic...



"Something Borrowed" AND "Something Blue"


And who wouldn't love to walk down the aisle in a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!?



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Green & Eco-Friendly Wedding Planning Series - Wedding Dresses!

There is a big movement, especially here in Ann Arbor, to use not only local, but eco-friendly and "green" resources when possible.   We have FABULOUS local vendors that I could spend days writing about, but we wanted to search the nation to see what other amazing resources were out there for you brides!  From your wedding dress to your rings, invitations, flowers, wedding favors...the list goes on....there are amazing resources that you need to know about.  This is the first post (in a series of posts) about green & eco-friendly wedding planning where we explore each detail of your wedding, one at a time. 

First topic - your WEDDING DRESS!! :)  For all you local gals, you must check out The Gown Shop Ann Arbor - Designer Amy Kuschel was just featured in the Spring 2011 Issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings.  Stacy Fork, owner of The Gown Shop Ann Abor, has created the most beautiful space and her customer service is top notch.  Click here to read more about Stacy and her amazing store.


But what else is out there?  Well, we found designer Morgan Boszilkov, based out of Atlanta, Georgia and owner of Natural Bridals.   Mogans collection represents an eco-friendly alternative to a designer wedding gown made with traditional material.
Morgan's designs are inspired by her travels in Europe and Asia and by everything in nature. She has boundless creative energy and enthusiasm for bringing an eco-friendly option to the modern bride.  She is commited to social and environmental responsibility and contributes 5% of her profits to organizations that support the environment - how greatt is that?  Here are a few of her gowns:






courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

Friday, March 25, 2011

Your Bridal Party Style

We are often asked to help our clients with the final choices and details of their bridal party attire.  From the colors of bridesmaid dresses and ties, to the type of jewelry and accessories worn by the 'maids and men, we love to help our clients dress their bridal party to the nines.  Of course, we want your wedding to be uniquely you, so we adore the relationships we are so blessed to build with our clients over the course of their wedding planning.  We put together an inspiration board of bridal party style that will hopefully get you going in the right direction:


One of our brides last summer bought parasols for all her bridesmaids.  Not only were they the perfect accessory since it was on and off rain all day at her outdoor venue, Misty Farms, but they also made for great photos!




Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Your Wedding Style: Boutonnieres

A bridesmaid dress can certainly make a statement at a wedding, but what about the groomsmen?  How can they stand out among all the other weddings your friends and family will be attending this year?  One simple, and fun way to add your special touch is through a unique boutonniere.  Take a look:

This one is made entirely of fabric:

How cool are these???

How about this gorgeous boutonniere paired with a pocket square?



Monday, March 21, 2011

Your Wedding Style: Bridesmaids Dresses

Every wedding is a unique and distinct representation of the couple, from the jewelry and shoes worn by the bride to the choice of music at the reception.  The style of your wedding should be a reflection of you, and that style also applies to the dresses you choose for your 'maids.  Some of the trends we've seen are mistmatched bridesmaids dresses, patterned bridesmaids dresses, or bridesmaids dresses in a variety of colors.  Here are some unique options that stood out to us:

We love the added burst of color and individuality the sashes give these dresses!  And the shoes aren't bad either ;)

We love these sheath dress with longer sleeves and flower detail on the neckline!

We <3 <3 <3 these modern, neutral, and short dresses!

Love these dresses in all colors of the rainbow!!!


We love these colorful bridesmaids dresses also - this time in a specific color theme :) 

Last, but certainly not least, we love the vintage, mix-matched but matching look of this bridal party <3


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Convertible (2-in-1) Wedding Dresses

Many brides want to debut a second look at their wedding reception, and slip into something a little more form fitting and shorter so they can really let loose on the dance floor!  David's Bridal now has a line of convertible dresses that go from long and formal to short and sassy...all in one dress!  Even better...they are budget friendly, starting at a mere $599. 


courtney@petalsplanningco.com
http://www.petalsplanningco.com/

Friday, March 11, 2011

Bikes, Bikes & More Bikes!

We have seen a lot of photographs taken lately with couples on bikes, bridal parties on bikes, and even photographers on bikes!   We love the idea of incorporating bikes into your wedding day, either as a photo opportunity, as transportation, or as decor.  They work well with the popular shabby-chic vintage theme, a more modern and colorful theme, or even a romantic-glam theme...take a look at some of the pictures below as inspiration for your wedding day!








Friday, February 18, 2011

B H L D N - Anthropologie Bridesmaids & Fashion Dresses

 A few days ago I blogged about Anthropologie's new bridal gown and dress collection, named B H L D N  which you can read and see about here and which = A-mazing!  Today we take a look at their bridesmaids dresses.  A few of these dresses come in limited colors, and others just come in one design.  Whether you're looking for the perfect bridesmaids dress or the perfect dress to wear to a wedding as a guest, you should definitely check out the new line B H L D N!  Prices range from $200 and up depending on the style of dress.

One of the services we offer is helping to pick out attire and accessories for you and your bridal party!  Call or email us to today to inquire about our services! :)


"beribboned dress"  $200
LOVE this mustard yellow color - pair with grey, navy and white for a very modern look

"oragami pleated"  $260
LOVE the green accent ribbon - replace with aubergine, navy, pantone or seafoam green to change up the look

"sandspun maxi"  $400
LOVE the formal length paired with the casual style of the maxi dress - perfect for a beach wedding

"savoy dress"  $220
Only Anthropologie could make this dress look good!  Pair with a statement headband or some funky shoes and give let this dress help make a statement about your wedding

"starburst pleated shift"  $200
So much fantastic detail in this short shift dress!  It speaks for itself :)

"twirled sweetheart"  $240
LOVE the romantic feel of this bubble skirt and the sweetheart neckline - very romantic and girly

"valenciennes dress"  $350
Who said bridesmaids dresses have to be solid colors?  Change it up and have your 'maids wear a patterned dress like the one above or even dresses in different patterns (but in the same color scheme)

**to view the whole collection click here**


Monday, February 14, 2011

B H L D N - Anthropologie Bridal Gowns

Let's be honest...this year Valentine's day is not about the romantic dinner, the flowers, the candy or the gifts.  For wedding planners and designers it's about the launch of B H L D N, better known as Anthropologies new bridal gown collection!  This collection is beautiful, whimsical, and best of all...AFFORDABLE!  Without further ado, I've selected a few of my favorites:

Tea length gowns are all the rage, and whether this is your wedding dress, or your reception dress, the floral details and bubble skirt are a homerun! 
Floral Artwork Dress $1,800

This A-line tea length dress is beautifully detailed and screams delicate and beautiful.  This is one of the more affordable dresses in the B H L D N collection.
Fondant Tea Dress $600

This truly is one of my favorite gowns...the pleated detail, the color...if you watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta, then perhaps you saw Cynthia's stunning pewter wedding dress that was to DIE for!  Amaze!
Pleated Fantasty Gown (the perfect name!) $3,600

This floor length stunner is made of silk and falls perfectly to create the ideal silhouette.  A mixture of modern design with a vintage feel, this dress is a beauty!
Ribboned Silk Gown $1,600

The black sash on this tiered gown adds the perfect touch!  With the ruffle detail  and sweetheart neckline, this dress is my second favorite in the collection :)
Tiered Tulip Gown $2,400

*All of these dresses, along with the entire collection, can be viewed on the B H L D N website*

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valentine's Day Wedding

February is the most notorious month for engagements, thanks to Valentine's Day!  Love is in the air, and there is no better way to proclaim your love than by proposing to your beloved.  I love to be inspired by holidays and what they represent, so I put together two inspiration boards to help you if you are thinking of having a Valentine's day inspired wedding.  The first is very classic.  It is based around the color red, a natural fit for Valentines' Day and incorporates all things romantic and lovely:


This next inspiration board contains nothing that is red, but is a modern take on a Valentine's Day inspired wedding design.  I am in love with the yellow/gray color combination and the white vases just put it over the top!