Posts Tagged ‘white’

{ design*sponge }

This Labor Day weekend, Jess and Mike tied the knot in style in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Having fallen in love with the Sherborn Inn they looked to Alden Blair to ensure that the details fell perfectly into place on their wedding day. Not only were things perfect, it was one fabulous party!

{ avenna studios }

Jess and Mike took advantage of the afternoon sun for photos. They were planning to see each other before the ceremony anyway, for the ketubah signing, so this was an excellent opportunity for fun, intimate portraits of the two of them.

{ avenna studios }

Details in the ceremony were especially personal and stunning. Mike’s sister, the artist of the family, designed the ketubah – the calligraphy is beautiful.

{ avenna studios }

Once the ceremony was sealed with a kiss guests entered the tent for cocktails and the Inn for dinner. The flowers for the entire wedding were stunning! Tamie Reid of Tamara Reid Designs created the classic centerpieces that Jess had envisioned. What impressed us most: the elegant and understated huppah. Tamie has a huppah that was created to her specifications, complete with a white satin cover that drapes the entire structure. It was lovely before the flowers were added, so all of her floral decor made the whole structure wedding worthy.

{ avenna studios }

Congratulations, Jess and Mike! Wishing you all the best for a fabulous 2011!

Cheers,
__Jessica

It’s inevitable – after the last dance the younger crowd will be looking for an after party, so planning a post-reception event provides more than just another round of drinks, it’s a way to keep your friends together for another few hours of shenanigans. The mild-mannered kind, of course.

An after party is also the first chance couples have to informally unwind with guests. When all of the wedding obligations are over, this is the perfect chance to relax with a glass of wine without being the center of attention. This just may be the perfect end to a perfect day.

{  black and white | red and gray | outdoor chandeliers }

Partying the Night Away

* Is an After Party for You?
An after party is extra time for you to mingle with your guests. Each after party has a life and feeling of its own – depending on your interest it can be a late-night club or a small house party. The decision on an after party should come to the desire (or not) to spend additional time with your guests – no one will fault you for choosing a few hours sleep over grabbing extra drinks at the bar.

* Selecting the Right Location
The keys to a great after party are knowing your guests and scouting venues. Clubs, busy bars, and music venues are best suited for high-energy groups. More intimate spaces like lounges, private homes, or hotel bars are best for the subdued crowds. Our advice: select a venue that appeals to your guests’ typical weekend night out. This is not the best time to expand their horizons – a familiar atmosphere will attract more guests.

* Continue the Party Atmosphere
Music and ambiance will keep your friends entertained until it is time for an early breakfast and a bloody mary. Ensure that your location will have the music, seating, and dance space that your guests will be looking for. Plan a visit to your final destination prior to your wedding to get a feel for the typical crowd. If you choose to host a house party, preparing the atmosphere will require a bit more leg work of acquiring subdued lighting, comfortable seating, an iPod with a great playlist, and beverages in coolers.

* What are the Invitation Rules?
We recommend inviting all guests. In terms of how to convey the invitation, there are plenty of great options. Rather than rely on word of mouth, add a message to each of the favors or at the favor display. It will be an exciting surprise to find that by the time they finish your edible favor they will be at the next party stop. Other options – put a sign next to the guest book/bar. If you do decide to spread the message verbally, ask your bridal party and family to share the news with guests as they mingle at the reception.

* What Hosting/Financial Obligations do you Have?
It depends. At any public venue (such as a bar or club) the couple is responsible for any cover charges or room rental fees, but guests will anticipate the need to cover their own expenses. Hosting at a private home, however, will require that you provide all beverages and food – AND ensure that the food is hot/drinks are cold. Just one other reason that a wedding planner is the perfect resource for tips and assistance in creating this unforgettable night.

Brr it sure is cold out there. Winter is officially in full swing, and being outside for any period of time is painful, let alone in that perfect strapless dress you’ve had your eyes on since you were a little girl. For a winter bride, you can buy a wedding gown made with warmer fabric like crushed velvet or Duchesse satin. If that isn’t an option, or you want to wear a summer fabric there are plenty of other fashionable alternatives.

Add a pair of opera length gloves, a shawl, a shrug, a hooded cloak or even a cute jacket to your beautiful dress. Not only will you be warm, but you will look cute at the same time! These accessories can be white, or you can add a little color. More and more brides are staring to add some color to their ensemble to match their bridesmaids. You could a ribbon or sash, or add a shawl in your bridesmaids color.

Curl up on the couch with some hot cocoa and look at all your different wedding day options. Hope this helps to inspire your winter wedding look.

Cheers!

Jen

Every girl has been there when the DJ or band announces over the loudspeaker that the bride will now be throwing her bouquet. All the girls get ready to catch it, all giddy, secretly hoping they will catch the bouquet, and be the next person to get married. On television and in the movies, they love to exaggerate this ritual, and sometimes throw in a cat-fight over the bouquet. While that doesn’t typically happen, this is fun exciting tradition that girls love ,and some take it very seriously…and one that guys probably dislike because of the potential repercussions.

While this is a seemingly great ritual, with it means the bride loses her bouquet to one of her friends. Think about how much time you are spending on picking out that simple bouquet. What color flowers do you want? Are they going to match your bridesmaid’s bouquets? Will you have a variety of flowers or just one kind of flower? As the bride, you agonize over these decisions for weeks, maybe even months. It seems like quite a shame to just give away your hard work without holding onto it for a memory keepsake.

Recently, many brides are having their florist make two bouquets: the one to be carried down the aisle and preserved as a keepsake, and a smaller one to be thrown out in the crowd. (Sometimes florists will even throw in the smaller bouquet for free as an advertisement.) This gives you the best of both worlds: you can continue the tradition of throwing the bouquet without losing the memories of your bouquet that you spent so many long hours planning. Having a smaller bouquet to toss also means that the lucky girl who caught the bouquet gets to keep it at the end of the night.

Although, this might not always be financially possible for everyone, it is a great alternate when it is. It is a win-win for both people involved. Gotta love traditions and the joy they bring.  So, go talk to your florist and talk about alternative bouquets and what s/he recommends. And to all of you attending a wedding soon, good luck out there. I know you can fight off those other girls and catch the bouquet

Cheers!

Jen

Halloween is just a few days away. If you are having a wedding over Halloween weekend and are looking for some last minute Halloween details to add a little bit of spookiness to your day, look no further.

* Forget the typical wedding cake toppers, place two creepy, spooky creatures on your cake.

* Want to give your table a little bit of flair? Add gourds and sprinkle fake spiders, bats and ghosts around the tables.

* Add a ghost to your bouquet or pin in your hair.

* Let the guests go trick-or-treating during your party. You can leave a bowl of candy out during cocktail hour, put it on tables during dinner or have it out for guests to take on their way out.

* Ask the DJ to play some Halloween-themed music, ie: Thriller, The Monster Mash, The Time Warp & Ghost Town just to give you a few ideas.

* See if the DJ and any other wedding vendors (Wedding Planner, Photographer, Caters) will dress in costume.

* Carve out a couple jack-o-lanterns and place them sporadically around the function hall. If you are feeling creative, carve out words like I love you, or pictures of you and your sweetheart.

* Add some orange accessories to your assemble with a necklace, bracelet or earrings.

* Candles are a must- place them around the ceremony, cocktail hour and on the tables.

* Print out a short creepy haunted story and leave them on the tables for the guests to read. It will put them in the Halloween mood.

* Hang some floating ghosts, gravestones and ‘Caution Haunted’ signs around the room.

Happy Halloween!

Jen

With all the latest fashions coming out of Bridal Market 2010 I can’t wait for the newest additions to Lilly Pulitzer’s line of fabulous clothing and accessories… wedding dresses!

{  let the tide pull you in }

I’m very impressed by Lilly’s 2010 line. She created a range of designs to suit weddings from beach-side soirees to formal fêtes.  But in keeping with her usual sparkle, the dresses, both long and short, have subtle hints of pink and green. Some bear a striking resemblance to Lilly’s signature cotton dresses while others appear to be her first departure into formals fit for a wedding.

{  the preppy princess }

White eyelet, backed by a pale pink, is a pretty twist on the traditional white-on-white lace overlay and is one of my favorites!

{  the preppy princess }

Short dresses are versatile, making them great options for either formal rehearsal dinners or afternoon weddings. I love that Lilly is working with different details – the hint of beading on this v-neck gown is just enough for the simple silhouette.

The collection is set to debut in a select group of boutiques sometime in the next six months. Once we hear more we’ll pass the good news along. Until then, good luck finding the *perfect* dress!

Cheers,
__Jessica

This weekend we brought to life the European Elegance inspiration board from one of our previous posts. Thanks to the fabulous Tyra Bleek we have a sneak peak into what we created, so stay tuned to for more photos and details.

{  tyra bleek }

A special thanks to Joseph of Gondola di Venezia, Boston’s only gondola tours. It was not only a fun way to spend part of the afternoon, but it is a romantic experience. As it turns out the couple on the gondola before us got engaged on their ride! The evening tours are a little more intimate, and a little less warm without the beating afternoon sun – this and dinner would make a lovely anniversary, don’t you think?

Cheers,
__Jessica