Wedding gowns: Aire Barcelona 2011 Collection

I must admit, the first thing that caught my attention to Aire Barcelona was Penelope Cruz. Isn't she such a doll?

But if you click through their 2011 Bridal Collection, you'll fall in love with the gowns. I like the fact that they offer styles that suit the different tastes of brides-to-be. So whether you're classic or modern, you'll surely find a design that you'll adore to bits.

From left: Namibia, Narila, Navia, and Nazaret

See what I mean? Aren't they gorgeous?

Here's more:

From left: Nectar, Neptuno, Nogal, Nuria

From A-line to ballgown silhouettes, from ruffles to rosettes, Aire Barcelona's 2011 Bridal Collection is just so pretty.

You can find more of their latest wedding gowns here. For sure, there's at least one that you'll absolutely love.

P.S.: The thumbnails look small (goes to show I haven't mastered Gimpshop yet). Just click through to see a larger version of it. Thanks!

Colored wedding shoes, part 2

Forgive me for not having updated this blog for some time. I've been really, really busy. Had a lot of things on my plate, and they took away my blogging time. But anyhoo...

I had fun looking at the colored wedding shoes I featured earlier, so here I am giving you another set of photos featuring brides wearing non-white footwear for their wedding. Check them out and find inspiration:

Aside from giving your wedding attire some pizzazz, they make great wedding photography subjects, too. If you dare to be different, going for colored wedding shoes is one thing you can do.

Photo credits, from top: CoryParris.com; DnKPhotography.com; KreativeEye.net; KellyOshiroEvents.com.

Going for colored wedding shoes

Traditional brides would go for an all-white ensemble, from head to foot. But nowadays more and more brides are spicing up their big day fashion by wearing colored things that serve as accents to the wedding dress. One of these that many ladies are picking up is the colored wedding shoes.

Yep, wedding shoes need not be white these days. Going for colored footwear gives more pizzazz. If your bridal style veers away from the classic, this is one suggestion you should keep in mind.

Here are some examples of brides that wore colored footwear for their wedding day:

Don't they look gorgeous? So if you're feeling adventurous, why not try wearing non-white shoes and footwear? They serve as pretty accents to your white dress and really makes you stand out.

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Photo credits, from top: DanielleAquilinePhoto.blogspot.com; OhDarlingPhotography.com; RockNRollBride.com; GreenWeddingShoes.com; OliviaLeighWeddings.com; ElizabethAnneDesigns.com.

Inspiration board - Purple and Yellow

For this inspiration board, I chose to play with purple and yellow. I noticed that I've only made a handful boards that had purple in it. And yellow seems to offer a nice contrast to it. The combination looks great for any kind of wedding, probably something on the classic side but with a little twist to it. Check it out and hope it gets you inspired:

1st row, from left: Gold Yellow Topaz Flower Crystal Necklace and Earring Set from IOffer.com; Lavender Sachet Favors from LittleThingsFavors.com; Style #223 bridesmaid dress from LizFields.com.

2nd row, from left:Yellow and purple cake from The Cake Blog at Livejournal.com; Lazaro Bridal Gown Style LZ#3962 from JLMCouture.com; Harvest Yellow and Plum Purple Letterpress Booklet Invitation from InviteSite.com; Island Paradise bouquet from Sandals.com.

3rd row, from left: Tie and boutonniere from Summer and Eric wedding album by DanielleAquilinePhoto.blogspot.com; Reception tablescape styling from Pelican Hill Photography album by CarolineTran.net; Desserts from Naoko + Taejo album by StephanieWilliamsPhotography.com.     

Dessert and candy buffets: Sweet!

While creating my posts for this blog, I always sift through the World Wide Web to look for pretty pictures to post, probably as a stand-alone post or as part of an inspiration board. And one of the things I've been enjoying seeing are dessert and candy buffets in wedding receptions.

I remember my cousin doing this, using sweets that are found in Goldilocks, one of the Philippines' bakeshops. I thought, being one with a sweet tooth, I should've done this in my own wedding! (Well, we had music CDs as souvenirs, which is also one thing about us: hubby and I are also audiophiles.)

And any bride or groom with a sweet tooth should have one in their wedding, too. Dessert and souvenir in one -- and something that everyone will absolutely love.

One of my favorite dessert buffet creators is Amy Atlas. Just looking at her pictures makes me swoon! And just like this dessert buffet she created for Martha Stewart Weddings, all her buffets are works of art -- they're so nice to look at!

Part of designing the dessert and candy buffet is to keep in mind the theme and the decor that should go along with it. I like this dessert buffet from Sweet & Saucy Shop that they made for an actual wedding. Looks fun and yummy at the same time.

Here's another dessert and candy bar I found on Yummy Piece of Cake's Flickr. Aside from candies, they also have cupcakes. I like the elegant white theme and how all the food was arranged.

What's nice about a dessert and candy buffet is that you can match it with your color motif. Since candies come in lots of colors, you can just choose what you want and put them in nice jars like this candy buffet arrangement from Classic Candy Buffet. And it's also okay to buy a lot of candy. The more, the merrier, and the better it looks on photos.

For your dessert and candy buffets, also consider the packaging where guests will put the candies. You can put your names or monograms on it, similar to the paper bags found in this candy bar from Inspired Goodness.

Aren't all these gorgeous? And I think they're practical, too. As a guest, you won't be bothered by favors that you'll just keep in a shelf. You'll actually enjoy this one. Dessert and candy buffets will surely be loved by people of all ages. It's one idea to consider for your wedding.

Inspiration board - White

My apologies for not posting for quite a while. Just had to move from Photoshop to Gimpshop, which meant I had to learn something new. But I digress...

In wedding etiquette, it's been said that it's the bride who should be the only one wearing white, the color of purity and chastity. But what if the bride wants an all-white wedding? As in with everyone in the entourage wearing white?

It's actually possible, but can be quite a challenge since everyone would be wearing the same color -- and that may steal the limelight from the bride. But it can be pulled off, if planned carefully.

If you require your bridesmaids to be wearing white and your gown is also in that color, make sure that the design of your wedding dress would tell everybody that you are the bride. Make your wedding dress a little bit intricate compared to your maids' (but remember not to go overboard on the design and fabric, either). Let the surroundings add the accent to your color motif, such as the leaves of your bouquet, the warm wood hue of the pews, the chrome finish of the chairs in your reception, or even your gold jewelry.

When done right, an all-white wedding exudes of pure elegance. Here's an inspiration board to give you an idea on how to pull off a wedding with white as the color motif:

1st row, from left: Adorned in Pearls wedding invitation by InvitationsGalorePrinting.cceasy.com; Cotton Cady Serena Dress from JCrew.com;Style FGD 2013 by HeleneBridal.com; Nerissa hair accessory by JenniferBehr.com.


2nd row, from left: Aisle decor photo from DelesieBlog.com; Style #5392 wedding dress from StPucchi.com; Corsage, Victorian Triple Strand Ivory Pearl Bridal Necklace from Etsy.com.


3rd row, from left: Love Birds Salt and Pepper Shakers by Beau-Coup.com; Bridal Brunch Dessert Table from AmyAtlas.com; Mixed Whites Wristlet from PembertonsFlowers.com.


4th row, from left: Lovett Hall tablescape from Jessica-Johnston.com; Dainty Blossoms from CharlotteWeddingCakes.com; Roses with baby's breath by BloomeryWeddings.com; RSVP Ivana from Zappos.com.

A simple guide on whom to invite on your wedding

A wedding is truly a big occasion, and sometimes you can't help but invite everyone to your big day. But costs are high nowadays, and one solution to stay within the budget is to trim down the number of guests. So how do you determine who are the people in your guest list's priority?

Let this simple flowchart I found over at Tumblr help you:

Hope this makes it easier for you to create your guest list for your wedding day!

J. Crew Fall 2010 Wedding Lookbook

J. Crew's Wedding Lookbook for Fall 2010 contains 20 new dresses for the bride and her, well, crew. Take a look at the wonderful wedding dresses in this collection:

They also have formal/ party dresses that are great choices for bridesmaids or for wedding guests:

Other beautiful dresses can be found in the J. Crew Fall 2010 Wedding Lookbook. For more bridal looks for you and your bridal party, you can check out their online boutique for more dresses and accessories.

High-profile wedding: Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

I guess this is one of America's most awaited weddings. And why not? Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, recently wed her longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck, New York.

Chelsea walked down the aisle wearing a Vera Wang strapless gown with a silver beaded belt and full skirt with a wavy pattern. Cute!

The ceremony, held in Astor Courts, was presided by a rabbi and a priest, as the groom was Jewish and the bride was a Methodist.

The wedding was attended by family and close friends. It seemed like both the bride and groom wanted a very intimate wedding.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Mezvinsky!

News and photo courtesy of Today at MSNBC.

Inspiration board - Pink and Brown

Yes, I so love pink...

For the past years, this color combination has become one of the more famous ones. Actually, brown plus another color (turquoise, orange, etc.). But for me this pretty much stands out because, aside from pink being a favorite color, it also reminds me of the two other things that I love: chocolate and strawberry. Yum!

Anyways, this combination is still loved by many brides-to-be. Hope you enjoy this inspiration board!

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1st row, from left: Cherry Blossoms "Make It Yours" Personalized Favor Box Kit from HotRef.com; Pink and Brown Cupcake Tower from SweetThings-Toronto.blogspot.com; Bridesmaids in brown with pink bouquets from ProjectWedding.com.

2nd row, from left: Style 07549 from Tuxedos.com; Style CL 10 wedding gown from Le-Spose-Di-Gio.it; Style JH5705 from JLMCouture.com.

3rd row, from left: Wedding Dessert Table from AmyAtlas.com; Pink Velvet Bouquet from HouseMartin.typepad.com; Blossom Pale Pink Designer Shoes from PerfectDetails.com.

4th row, from left: Wedding Program from ghlDesign.com; Style 28202 Flower Girl Dress from ForeverBridals.com; Pink and Brown Table Setting from LaraSwansonPhoto.com.

Wedding decor: Paper lanterns

Paper lanterns can be used as great decorations for either outdoor or indoor weddings. In halls or tents, they give a fancy look for your ceilings. For outdoor weddings, they are cute details hung on trees and also sometimes serve as hanging luminaries.

Today, you don't necessarily have to have an Oriental wedding theme to incorporate paper lanterns in your wedding decor. You can have a beach or vintage or garden theme and still use these pretty lanterns as accents. They're readily available, too: you can purchase them at sites like Luna Bazaar or Etsy, if you wish to shop online. In the Philippines, you can go to places like UNTC or Divisoria to buy them or to purchase supplies and make the lanterns your wedding DIY projects. Or you can ask your event stylist to include paper lanterns for your wedding decor.

Here are a few wedding venue photos that feature paper lanterns as decor:

1st row, from left: Reception decor from BlossomsTX.com; Hometown Hospitality from MurphyWeddings.wordpress.com.

2nd row, from left: Emilia + Jay wedding by Marie Labbancz from ArtOfLove.com; Dinner at Dusk: Paper Lanterns from MarthaStewartWeddings.com; Lime Green Paper Lanterns from GoodThingsWeddingFavors.com. 

3rd row, from left: Tent ceiling by Winslow Martin via ElementsOfStyleBlog.com; Party Decoration by LunaBazaar.com; Asian Globes with Decor from Aardvark-Ent.com. 

4th row: Tent Lighting in East Hampton by Luminousld.com; Rose Petal Wedding Runner from TheFlirtyGuide.blogspot.com.

Inspiration board - Yellow and Gray

I guess I got affected by the weather, (no) thanks to Typhoon Conson, which hit the Philippines' northern provinces and affecting Metro Manila as well.

Because the sky was dreary since yesterday, I chose gray as a color to toy around for this inspiration board. For the accent, I chose yellow primarily because I want to see something cheery amid the gloomy weather. Yeah, this board was inspired by my feelings of sadness because of the weather and the search for a glimmer of hope for sunshine.

Apparently, after making this, I found this to be one of my favorites. The color combination was great. Check it out:

1st row, left to right: Style 454 wedding garter by TheGarterGirl.com; Silver Monogrammed Favor Box Kit by MyWeddingFavors.com; Modern Houston Wedding tablescape by Paper Dolls Photography via StyleMePretty.com.

2nd row, from left: Jean De Sey Silver Suit from JeanDeSey.fr; Frase wedding gown by Pronovias.com; Ribbon Boutonniere by MarthaStewartWeddings.com; Dessy Collection Style 2810 by Dessy.com.

3rd row, from left: Style 47819 flower girl dress by Watters.com; Vintage White and Yellow Bouquet by KarenTran.com.

4th row: Flower Child wedding invitation by InvitationsByDawn.com; Wedding cake by Cameron Ingalls via GreenWeddingShoes.com; Shoe detail from StephanieWilliamsPhotography.com; Wedding rings on citrus candy from LoveStillStands.tumblr.com.

Celebrity wedding: Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green

Shia LaBeouf's [former] leading lady in the Transformers movie franchise and the ex-90210 cast member tied the knot last June 24 in a very intimate beach wedding ceremony in Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii officiated by a local Hawaiian priest. The wedding's only witness was Brian's son, Kassius, from a previous relationship.

Megan wore a silk georgette strapless corset gown with a 16-foot train created by Armani Prive.

No frills, no embellishments. Simple, classic, yet perfect for a beach wedding. The veil looked a bit hard to manage, though, what with the wind blowing it everywhere. Nevertheless, the bride looked so pretty on that day.

Brian and his son came in matching Armani white shirt and pants.

Must admit, I'm not a big fan of both actors, but hey, I like the fact that they chose to hold an intimate union compared to other celebrities who'd go for more flashy weddings. A simple wedding like this feels more solemn and it captures the essence of what marriage is and should be.

Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Brian Austin Green. I do hope their union will last.

Photos and information taken from DailyMail.co.uk.

Wedding flowers: Peonies

Roses, tulips, and calla lilies are pretty common wedding flowers. For those who want something different, make peony one of your choices.

A flower that usually grows during spring/summer, peonies are characterized by their full, rounded blooms. They also go well with any other flower and make the bouquet look round and lush. I think peonies are kinda rare here in the Philippines, but if I had a choice, I'd want them in my bouquet along with roses.

Peonies symbolize romance, prosperity, and good marriage, making them a good flower choice for your wedding bouquet. They could also mean bashfulness and compassion.

For brides looking into a spring/summer wedding, here are wedding bouquet inspirations that feature peonies:

1st column, from top: Pink and white peonies from BridgeWaterGardens.com; Blue hydrangea and peonies from Reception-Wedding.com; Pink and White Rose and Peony Bridal Bouquet from ArenaFlowers.com; Metalina and amnesia roses with ivory peonies, black dill and crystal blush calla lilies from FlowerMagician.blogspot.com.


2nd column, from top: Round bouquet of pink peonies, peach calla lilies, orange roses, white roses and berries from Flower-Arrangement-Advisor.com; White Icelandic poppies, tree peonies and narcissus from RealSimple.com; Red peonies and deep pink cymbidium orchids from BlueSkyWeddings.com; Orchids and peonies from YourWeddingDayOnline.co.uk.

Wedding gowns: Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2011 Collection

Oscar de la Renta, one of the foremost names in fashion, presents its 2011 spring wedding gown collection that features beautiful dresses that suit every type of bride. Here, I'll showcase some of the gowns that captured my attention:

If you're all for the classic and elegant look, the strapless lace gown on the left or the silk gazar and guipure one shoulder gown is perfect for you. Both have silhouettes that emphasize your sexy figure.

For those who opt for a short wedding dress, you can choose from either the pink strapless dress with guipure overlay or the silk one shoulder dress. Match them with dangling earrings and a birdcage veil and you're all set.

I actually love these two gowns that makes the bride look like a Spanish Senorita. The one on the right, the silk gazar gown with floral appliques, looks sexy even with the long sleeves while the silk blouse and green taffeta skirt terno gives the wedding gown a modern twist with a splash of color.

Speaking of color, brides who want a different hue on their gowns can pick the strapless gown with pink taffeta draped bow on the left or  the navy strapless gown with metallic ribbon details. These gowns are truly made for the brides with attitude.

The collection also has something for the simple yet modern bride. Featuring unique necklines, soft tulle, ruffles, and even ostrich feathers, these contemporary designs are surely made to reflect your personality and will make you stand out, just as you should on your big day.

There are still more designs that will suit your taste. See the full collection on their official website and find the wedding gown that's perfect for you.

Wedding video: Coy Placido and Tuesday Vargas

One of the funniest and most touching wedding videos I've seen so far is from Filipino comedienne Tuesday Vargas (now Marizel Sarangelo-Placido in real life). Her beach wedding to guitarist Coy Placido (of Session Road) in Discovery Shores Boracay looked magnificent and fun. Love her serpentina gown. And her vows, too. :)

Mayad Studios does an absolutely great job, capturing the fun and love that surrounded their union. Here's the video for your enjoyment:


Jerico and Marizel (Tuesday Vargas) from Mayad Studios on Vimeo.

Here's an English translation (well, roughly) of parts of the bride's wedding vows:

"In my life, I've had a lot of dreams: to be a great doctor, to be a beauty queen, and to get married in a beautiful place to a hunk of a guy. I can say that today, one of my dreams has come true: that of becoming a beauty queen."

"Coy, I would like to thank you for the countless times you have saved my life from the abyss. Thank you for the love you have shown me and Kaya, a love that does not expect something in return. Whatever happens, even if we adopt too many cats, become has-beens which won't happen because we're not even famous yet, be laughed at by kids when we're 70 because we're all wrinkled and still have a lot of tattoos, we'll face everything together and with hands holding each other's."

"Today, with all my heart, I give you my life. I will make sure you'll have every reason to be happy. My heart overflows with joy to be wed to my only love."

Wedding gowns: Pronovias' 2011 Collection

Here's another wedding dress collection that will surely leave every bride-to-be glued to the screen. Divided into 7 different categories, Pronovias keeps up to their title as the world's leading bridal house with their oh-so fabulous designs.

I guess it helped that the 2011 collection was classified into 7 different categories. Makes it easier to pick which one you'd really like. In this post, I chose to feature one design that I absolutely adore from each category.

Farnes from Coleccion Fashion

If you're the type of bride who wants to wear something that's light and follows your every move, you can pick a gown from Pronovias' Coleccion Fashion. The gowns in this category are made with soft fabrics, feminine cuts, and feather/rhinestone appliques.

Foro from Coleccion City

For the modern bride, the wedding dresses from Coleccion City offers a great selection. Most of the gowns here are short and streamlined, made of Mikado silk and satin, and adorned with jeweled embellishments and embroidery.

Fidji from Coleccion Dreams

A wedding is a girl's fantasy come true, so why not wear a wedding gown that features dreamy silhouettes and embellishments? Gowns from the Coleccion Dreams boast volume via ruffles and beautiful appliques. The result -- a bridal gown that's simply magical.

Frisol from Coleccion Glamour

Wedding gowns from Coleccion Glamour will surely make you the center of attraction, as you should be. Boasting rich fabrics, soft ruffles, pleats and embellished jewels, the gowns from this Pronovias collection speak of sheer sophistication and elegance.

Fez from Coleccion Ball Gowns

The wedding dresses from Coleccion Ball Gowns will surely make you look and feel like a queen on your special day. The satin and taffeta gowns of this collection feature bouffant skirts and corseted waists. For a look that's straight out of a fairy tale, I would suggest picking a gown from this collection.

Finisterre from Coleccion Style

If you want a gown that's super chic and contemporary, the wedding dresses from Coleccion Style is perfect for you. What I like about the design of the wedding gowns in this collection is the silhouettes that emphasize your great curves.

Iman from Coleccion Costura

If you want to go for a classic look, then choose a wedding gown from the Coleccion Costura. The gowns feature romantic silhouettes, not too frilly but still so elegant. Some of the dresses from this collection feature sleeves that may be removed for the reception party.

You can see more of the lovely wedding gowns of Pronovias when you visit their website.

A royal wedding: Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling

The weekend saw a wedding that's as glitzy and glamorous as a Hollywood union. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden tied the knot with her former fitness trainer, Daniel Westling, after 8 years of being together.

Their love story is one that's like straight out of a romantic novel that ends in a happy ever after with a marriage blessed by both sets of parents. Incidentally, the Princess Victoria's parents, King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia, were wed on the same day 34 years ago.

The Crown Princess looked radiant and beautiful in her duchess satin wedding gown with a 5-meter train attached to the waist. She wears a tiara, the same one the Queen wore on her own wedding, with her veil.

The princess was escorted by the King as she walked down the aisle to meet her groom.

They're just so regal and beautiful...

Of course, the groom was in a dashing tuxedo. I think his glasses added a bit of charm to his overall look.

The next photo shows him alongside the Princess' brother, Prince Carl Philip, on the tiffany blue carpet.

Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine complete Sweden's royal family. They look absolutely gorgeous in their respective gowns.

Daniel's parents were also in attendance for their son's very special day.

The wedding was well-attended by over 1,000 guests, including royalties and aristocrats from different countries. And because it was a royal wedding, everyone was indeed dressed to the nines. You can see the royal couple's wedding guests here.

Princess Victoria and now Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland, look so happy and in love. Let's all wish them to have a happy and successful marriage.

Photo credits: OhNoTheyDidnt-Livejournal. News from Wedding-News.co.uk and HelloMagazine.com.