Friday, August 19, 2011

Black bridesmaid dresses

Here in my country, the Philippines, the elders frown upon black as a wedding color. It represents mourning, they say. But today, more and more couples are doing the bold move of using black for their wedding motif.

A few days ago, I stumbled upon a forum member asking how to pull off black for her bridesmaids. She was worried that their black dresses would look drab in pictures. That got me thinking about black bridesmaid dresses and how the girls can still look pretty even in that color. See what I found on the Net:

Top, left to right: Alfred Angelo, Alyce Designs, Eden Bridals, Nordstrom.
Bottom, left to right: Barry Jay, Jordan Fashions, JLM Couture, Sophia Tolli.
I say, it's an elegant color, especially for evening or glamorous Hollywood-themed weddings. By itself, paired with jewels or matched with other colors, black can be an elegant color for your bridesmaids.

Hope this got you inspired!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Celebrity wedding: Kate Moss and Jamie Hince

I just can't stop ogling at the wedding photos of Kate Moss and The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince released at Vogue.com.

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince as photographed for the Vogue feature
Their wedding was a mix of vintage glam and country chic. Utilizing lots of whites, the overall vibe was simple yet utterly elegant. Check out the details:

Kate and daughter Lila Grace
Groom in Yves Saint Laurent, bride in John Galliano.
The reception
Tablescape details
The wedding cake

Looks like a fashion ad, don't you think?
Their wedding is a great inspiration for those wanting to do a rustic vintage wedding. Hope this got your minds stimulated.

Images from Vogue.com and MarieClaire.co.uk

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Real wedding: Michelle (of Inspired Weddings) and Gio

In celebration of our 3rd wedding anniversary, I'd like to take this time to reminisce about the days that led to the big day. 

But before I do, I'd like to put this disclaimer that 1) this wedding was held in the Philippines; 2) all the suppliers we had are from Manila; and 3) this is a super-budgeted wedding.

Our budget that time was more or less Php160,000 or not more than USD 3,800. And here in the Philippines, that's already an average (even below average) amount for a wedding that had around 170 guests. So how did we go about it?

Hubby and I relied on Manila's most famous DIY haven: Divisoria. That's where I found our suppliers for the dresses and raw materials for the music CD souvenirs. Also near the area is a street called Recto Avenue, wherein lots of printers accept wedding invitation jobs. We had Printlane do our scroll-type wedding invites.

For the flowers, we went to Dangwa, a short drive from Divisoria, where stalls of flower shops are lined next to each other. It's where you can find affordable flower arrangements for different occasions; almost all of them do weddings, too.

Rings would have been expensive, if we chose two-toned and diamond encrusted rings. So we opted for the simple gold band (around USD 210) and had our initials and wedding date engraved.

The biggest splurge we made was on the food. Almost 40% of the wedding budget went there. We found Eloquente, a caterer that offered great food, nice reception set-up, plus cake and use of the bridal car.

For photography, we got Treasured Memories. But since we were working with a tight budget, we opted to get their photography service only, which consisted of only unlimited unedited shots saved in a DVD.

One of the challenges we had were with regards to venues. We wanted a church and reception venue that were close to each other. Good thing Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City had a function hall in the premises. 

Where to prep for the big day was also a challenge, as that time, everyone was so obsessed with getting married on 8/8/2008. We were getting married the next day. Hotels were quite fully accommodated at this time. But good thing we found a quaint bed and breakfast called Stonehouse that's some streets away from the church.

Working with a really tight budget seemed stressful at first, but when you've got family and friends to pitch in on some things, it becomes less daunting. My brother and his friends played for the ceremony, my friends hosted the reception party, and my sister and cousin coordinated everything.

So was it successful? I think yes, primarily because 1) we had a long preparation of 1 year and 2 months before the big day; 2) we did a lot of research and legwork on our own, and we got to talk to all of our suppliers face to face; 3) family and friends were there to help (in one form or another); and 4) we learned to let go and enjoy the moment.

The event didn't pass without any snags; of course there were a bit of things that didn't go exactly as planned. But it didn't mean that we should stress out and sweat the small stuff. We thought, after all, nothing's bigger than celebrating our union.

Here's a short slideshow featuring a few things and moments from our wedding:


And that concludes my story on how we made our wedding possible. Hope to hear from Inspired Weddings' readers soon!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

New gowns from BHLDN

Yes, here I am once again to give you a showcase of new wedding dresses, this time from BHLDN. Looking at their latest collection, I find myself falling in love with this company all over again.

I am particularly enamored by the Elysium gown, which features an illusion neckline filled with embroidery:
Elysium gown
... the neckline actually reminded me of what Emma Watson wore for the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I think the tulle/ illusion neckline is in vogue!

The Arcadia gown, meanwhile, utilizes floral appliques made from organza, chiffon, and tulle:
Arcadia gown
The skirt features a slit that gives it a sexy look while allowing your shoes to steal a bit of the show.

The Windswept gown is also one of my favorites, with the feather-and-leaf trims at the bottom:
Windswept gown

And while this isn't a gown per se, the Counterpart Shell top and Tulle Tiers Skirt form an awesome bridal ensemble:
Tulle Tiers Skirt and Counterpart Shell Top

For brides-to-be who'd like to veer from the traditional style, BHLDN offers dresses and separates that are laid-back and adventurous yet still very stunning. Check out their new releases on their website.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Marchesa Bridals - Spring 2012

Marchesa presents its new bridal collection for Spring 2012. The latest design features sheer fabrics, vine-like patterns, and dainty floral flourishes that will surely capture every bride-to-be's fancy.

The Violet dress instantly caught my eye, with its sheer neckline and vine detail from the shoulders to the bodice:
Violet (Spring 2012)

The Eloise utilizes the peplum skirt design:
Eloise (Spring 2012)

With its frilly ballgown skirt, Luisa is sure to be the choice of romantic brides:
Luisa (Spring 2012)

For ladies who want to showcase their hourglass figures, Talitha will definitely do the trick. The lace appliques also spell glamour:
Talitha (Spring 2012)

And for the modern bride who goes for the non-traditional short bridal dress, Sienna is a beautiful option:
Sienna (Spring 2012)

There are lots of other gorgeous wedding dresses in their website, so go there and check out Marchesa's Spring 2012 bridal collection. There's surely one dress that you'll fall in love with.
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