Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Inspiration board - Turquoise

Been quite busy these past few days, so my apologies. Anyway, during my spare time, I found out that there was an inspiration board that I had prepared months ago but failed to put here. My goodness! But better late than never, right?

I did the inspiration board below after Pantone announced its color of the year for 2010: Turquoise. This pretty shade that's like a mix of green and blue is cool to the eyes, making it a great wedding motif color for spring and summer weddings. For your inspiration, here's a turquoise-themed board for all of you.

1st column, from top: Turquoise Flower Hair Clip from Etsy.com; Turquoise Conical Mosaic Outdoor Garden Tiki Torch from Amazon.com; After Six Bridesmaid Style 6579 from Dessy.com.

2nd column, from top: Dot-Cha! Invitation from InvitationsByDawn.com; Style SD5230 from MaggieSottero.com; Turquoise Favor Boxes from AmericanBridal.com.

3rd column, from top: Turquoise Daisy Bouquet from LerheeBouquets.com; Turquoise Rose wedding cake from TheCakeStore.co.uk; Turquoise Fish and Wave in Tin Box Clip and Cufflink from Ties.com; Lenox "Chirp" Table Linens Collection from Macys.com.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Wedding gowns: Get inspiration from the red carpet, part 2

This is a continuation of my previous post about red-carpet styles you can use as inspiration for your wedding dress design. Here are 5 more looks that can get you inspired:

One of the looks that stood out during the Oscars was this soft flowy Elie Saab pink dress worn by Anna Kendrick. If you like this kind of fabric for your wedding dress, the Le Spose di Gio bridal gown on the left is perfect for you. It's made of organza and also has the same off-shoulder style that offers a sexy cover-up for your arms.

Miley Cyrus goes for a bustier top in her Jenny Packham formal wear. You can get a similar look with the Lasara gown from Watters. It's simple and cute, and the embellished flowers on the upper part of the skirt makes this a great gown for a summer or garden wedding.

Gabourey Sidibe is a winner that night, not only for her Oscar-worthy performance but also for her style and grace as she donned this blue Marchesa off-shoulder number. Being plus sized doesn't mean you can't have a stylish gown. Many plus sized wedding gowns are already offered in the market, like the chic Eternal Love wedding dress from Igigi. It's made to flatter your curves and emphasize your best assets.

Kristen Stewart looked like a Barbie doll in a Monique Lhuillier. The same designer also created the strapless trumpet-style gown on the left, which looked very similar to what the Twilight star was wearing. Understated elegance -- that's what a bride in this gown exudes.

Last but not least is Demi Moore with this ruffled number from Versace. Ruffles add drama to your gown, and this Demetrios gown will definitely make the cut. Classy and sophisticated is the type of bride who'd make this her choice.

There you have it, some of the Oscar dresses that you can use as inspiration in creating your wedding gowns. While there are a lot of options, just remember to pick a gown that flatters your shape and feels comfortable. Even if it's just for a day, your wedding is one big, special day, and what you wear is as equally important as anything else.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Wedding gowns: Get inspiration from the red carpet, part 1

I know the Oscars has been held weeks ago. It's just that, looking at photos of the stars in their best, I knew I had to post this because I believe there are a lot of women who also look into what famous people are wearing and make them as their basis for choosing a wedding gown design. So without further ado, here are some of the most gorgeous looks during the Oscar night and how these creations can be the foundation of your dream bridal wear.

First up is the Marchesa dress worn by this year's Best Actress in the Academy Awards, Sandra Bullock. The top portion had bead and lace appliques that served as beautiful accents to her gold gown. For your wedding you can also wear something similar, like the Oleg Cassini wedding gown (left) which also has appliques plus a coordinating lace jacket. With this, you can create two looks in one -- it's a winner!

Another look I loved was this one-shoulder Badgley Mischka dress worn by Queen Latifah. Jeweled accents and a trumpet silhouette -- another winner in my book. A style that looked closely to it is the Fiori gown from Maggie Sottero. Almost the same cut and design, perfect for romantic brides.

I guess one of the gowns that gained much attention was the one Cameron Diaz wore, made by Oscar de la Renta. Shining from top to bottom, it really is a scene stealer. If you want a bridal gown that puts you in the spotlight, the Lazaro gown with bead and embroidery details will truly make you the queen of the night -- because that's what you should be on your big day.

Fresh and simple is how I can describe Amanda Seyfried in her Armani Prive ballgown-style dress. If that's your bridal style, you can go with the Alfred Angelo wedding gown on the left, which has the same silhouette and classic design.

Jennifer Lopez also came in an Armani Prive, with a dress something similar to Amanda's but with a little more edge, thanks to the side train. Trains are indeed one of the highlights of a wedding gown, and if you want a more fancy design, the Malena gown by Pronovias will surely be a great choice.

These are just some of the red carpet dresses that got my attention. There's more Oscar looks on the next post, so stick around!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

To hire or not to hire a wedding coordinator

One question every couple should ask at the onset of their wedding preparations is: Should we get a wedding coordinator? Let's face it, brides- and grooms-to-be are much busier nowadays, even before they start planning the wedding. And there are only a few couples who actually know the ins and outs of wedding planning.

Hiring a professional wedding planner/wedding coordinator/bridal consultant is not exactly a requirement to all couples -- it's a choice. Before getting one, ask yourself if 1) you can handle the preps, and 2) if you have someone, like a family member or friend, to help you out. To tell you the truth, we did not hire a professional wedding coordinator during our big day. I guess it helped that our families and friends actively participated from preparation to execution. And because we had more than a year to prepare and having experienced being guests at other people's weddings, we knew more or less what we should do. In the end, everyone enjoyed the party.

But for couples who are really in the dark and would like to get a fresh perspective of the planning stage, hiring a wedding coordinator is a must. Wedding coordinators help you with the nitty-gritty, from thinking of a theme to hiring suppliers to managing your budget to organizing the flow of the wedding program. They're there from Day 1 of the preparations until the last minute of your reception.

One of the advantages of getting a wedding planner is that they usually have a huge list of contact suppliers. This eases the process of scouring and researching for venues, caterers, gown makers, photographers, and the like. Sometimes they could even haggle prices for you, if they can, so you could stick to your budget.

Another advantage is that wedding coordinators helps in keeping the program flowing smoothly, especially on the day itself. They would carry a checklist of things you'd need for the ceremony and reception -- some of them even have a sort-of wedding first aid kit for those small snags that might happen.

Some wedding coordinators also take note of your guest list and RSVP. If it's part of their service, they would be the ones to do the follow-up, removing the stress from the bride and groom.

Bottomline, wedding coordinators help make your big day as organized as possible so you get to enjoy the wedding more and worry about the little things less.

Wedding coordinators have varied services catering to your needs. You can hire them solely for consultation, or get the full package (from preparations to wedding day itself) or the on-the-day coordination (you have your suppliers already, you just need the organization).

Of course, there are a few things to remember about getting a wedding coordinator. First, do your research: How long have they been in the business? Who have been their past clients? What are their services and how much are they going to charge you? How many times should you meet during the preps? What will be the terms stated in the contract?

I've heard of horror stories regarding a few wedding coordinators, and it's best to do a background check on the ones you're eyeing first. The best way to check their credibility, aside from asking them directly (that's also to check if you have rapport with your potential coordinator), is to ask their past clients how they fared during their wedding. Online forums are a big help to determining the names to be short-listed in your mind. Actual brides who have availed of their service would be more than willing to recommend their wedding planners to you.

So now that you have an idea, ask yourself if it's important that you hire a wedding coordinator. If you think you won't be able to handle it on your own, remember there's always someone willing to help you out during your preparations. Work hand in hand with your wedding coordinator and your big day will be truly memorable.
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