A Remembrance Of Loved Ones

Many couples want to incorporate their loved ones into the big day and celebrating the life of those who have passed is no different.  There are various ways to highlight these loved ones in both the ceremony and reception, I have picked a few of my favorites ways for some inspiration. 

#1. Photos.  Probably the most common and the most diverse way to remember loved ones, photos can be used in many ways throughout the wedding day.  This bride kept her loved ones close by putting a photo locket on her wedding dress' belt while others choose to attach a photo locket to their bouquet.  Another way is to set up a special space at the reception with photos and rememberance candles, which a FCW client did for her wedding in April 2011. 

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Williams wedding 4.2.11, photo credit: KRR Photography Ltd.

#2. Ceremony.  It is such a nice gesture to include a short note about all the loved ones both you and your future spouse will miss on this special day.  Another idea is to include any readings or songs that remind you of these people.  Some couples choose to incorporate rememberance into the wedding ceremony by set aside single white roses (or any flower you choose) to give to the direct family members of those who have passed on or simpy having a rememberance table.  If you have immediate family members who have passed on, leaving an empty chair is a powerful gesture.

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#3. Reception.  Having a dessert bar?  Use some of your favorite family recipes and share Grandma/Mom/Aunt Becky's delicious treats with all your guests!  Favors are another special way to honor loved ones with a donation to a favorite charity or cause.  Some charities like the American Heart Association will even gift you special favor cards to explain to guests where the donation is going and why.

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Guy's Corner: Stylin' & Profilin'

There are so many ways for a groom to be both handsome and comfortable on the big day.  Modern day grooms and groomsmen have a plethora of options for wedding attire.  I've picked a few of my favorite personalized items to ensure stylish and happy men, enjoy! 

First up, if you like Converse then you might have already seen their newest design idea.  Converse's Create & Customize option allows brides and grooms to personalize wedding day chucks with names, dates and pretty much any words you want.   Check the site for specific pricing and order details, making sure you allow enough time for delivery without cutting it too close to the big day.

 

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For the groom & his guys who want a splash of awesome up top, Cyperoptix offers a wide range of colorful & awesome ties.  This is a great option for wedding attire that is right in between informal and formal.  Attire rules are less rigid now so don't be afraid to dress up suits with a pop of personalization.

The 411: Chevron Style

Chevron is one of those words that you may only know if you are already knee deep in wedding.  The long story is that the chevron design appeared as early as approximately 1800 BC in archaeological recovery of  designs on pottery and rock carvings in the modern day country of Greece (source).  The short version is that chevron is a popular pattern utilized in stationary and decor for today's weddings.  If you have fallen in love with this design as much as I have, here are a few ideas of how to incorporate this fun print into your big day. Enjoy!

#1. Stationary.  Simple and pretty, using chevron for your invitations sets a great tone for what guests can expect at your chic wedding.  Continue the theme with menu cards and programs with this pretty design.

 

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#2. Decor.  The easiest way to incorporate a print into your wedding is in the decor.  Napkins, utensils and linens are a fun, cheap way to tie in your colors and theme.

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#3. Attire.  The decor isn't the only area that can indulge in this print.  Dress up your wedding party with items that they will definitely use again and again.  And don't get left out, here's a sassy rehearsal dinner dress for the bride!

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The Quick List: J. Crew Addition & Bridesmaids' Newest Option

As much as I have grown to enjoy blogging for Felicity C Weddings, I have noticed that there is a direct correlation between how busy I am with how many posts I can get out monthly.  Client meetings and vendor timelines will always come first obviously.  I don't even want to tell you how many started posts I have waiting in my queue to review, complete and actually post.  And it is not like the inspiration is slowing down, just my blogging time.  So here is my solution- quick mini posts so I can feel validated.  And here we go.

As mainstream stores and designers are getting in on the wedding action, wedding fashion has gotten to the point of always evolving and changing as quickly 'regular fashion'.  Anyone in the know is already aware of J. Crew's fabulous wedding collection of bridesmaid and bridal gowns.  Now J. Crew is a one stop shop to fulfill all your bridal needs as they have added a menswear collection!  The J. Crew wedding collection for the groom and wedding party is so well made and versatile that the clothing can be worn again and again which is great for your budget.

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Another shot of awesome to wedding attire is the budget friendly trend of bridesmaids in skirts.  Green Wedding Shoes offers up a lovely amount of inspiration for this look.  At first glance this trend may seem better suited for more casual weddings but the sames rules apply; formality is determined by fabric, length, color and accessories.  So keep this as an option and have fun with the possibilities!  Enjoy!

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Recessionista Brides Start A Trend

This week the New York Times published an article discussing the latest bridal attire trend.  Can you guess what it is?  Savvy brides are spending less on wedding gowns and instead are now focusing on the accessories.  As the article points out, there are so many options for gowns, most of which are focusing on the recessionista bride.  Vera Wang's White Collection for David's Bridal, Anthropologie's BHLDN line and J. Crew's bridal collection, just to name a few. 

As a recessionista extraordinaire, I'm all for buying accessories that can be worn again and again... and again.  I would even suggest to go a step futher by focusing only on buying the accessories that you need.  I love the freedom today's brides have to make their own rules as the days of buying everything new for your wedding are over.  Brides are realizing that they may already have the perfect shoes, necklace, wrap, etc. which can save hundreds of dollars.  Or if you do want to splurge on wedding shoes, at least you can wear them again.  Some brides are excited to change into a reception dress, so buy a second dress that is more of a party dress that you can get a lot of mileage out of at future events.  And by the way, let's not leave the men out.  With most grooms choosing to wear a gray, tan or black suit in lieu of a tuxedo, I think it is worth the extra money to buy a tailored suit that you will be able to wear for a lifetime.

Lastly, the biggest way to cut costs may seem obvious- do not mention the "w" word- wedding.  Aside from an actual wedding gown appointment, don't mention the accessories you are shopping for are for your wedding.  I hope this gives couples some inspiration to get the most out of their attire, not only on their big day but for future events.  Since my Felicity C Weddings clients are always ahead of their time, I've picked a few client photos for ideas. Enjoy!

 CHERISH your dress, LOVE your accessories.

Credit: Clair Pruett

 

Embellish with a jeweled sash & hairpiece that you can wear again.

Credit: Procopio Photography

Rock a 2nd wedding dress that you can wear to many future events.

Credit: Jacqueline Schlossman/ ReadyLuck

Lady In Red: Yay or Nay?

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Although there are very few rules left for wedding guests, the cardinal rule is to not steal the bride/couple's thunder on her/their big day.  Following that principle, I find it inappropriate to wear red to a wedding, as it is such an attention-grabbing color.  I recently went to a wedding where FOUR guests (all female) were wearing bright red dresses.  It made me wonder if guests believe there really are no rules for wedding attire.  I have noticed at client weddings that while the majority of guests are dressing appropriately, there have been a few instances of too short, too tight, too flashy, etc.  As often as women's fashion changes, maybe guests are taking on new rules for wedding attire too.  It used to be that black was too somber to wear to a wedding but now that is a top choice.  My main question is how are women deciding which, if any, rules to follow?  Is appropriate based on your color choice or dress style/length? your geographic region (west coast, midwest, east coast, deep south, etc.)? formality of the wedding? time of year? location of wedding?  

Thinking about all of this, of course yesterday I saw The Duchess of Cambridge wearing a red dress (with a red hat!) going a wedding this past weekend.  My head exploded with even more questions.  Does she get to where whatever she wants anywhere she goes because she is royalty now?  Do British people just wear crazier wedding attire (I'm looking at you, Princess Beatrice) all the time?  I know this a not a typical post wherein I discuss a topic with a definite guidelines.  Please leave your comments on this post to let me know what you think & have a great day!

Guy's Corner: Formal Event Clothes Made Easy

With wedding season now starting as early as March and going through November & December, it is pretty common for most people to attend at least wedding a year.  From beach to black tie weddings, what to wear is always a concern for all guests.  This Well Groomed Blog post breaks down the age old question that most males face in regards to fashion: which color dress shoes to wear with what color suit.  While males do have some room to make mistakes in day to day work attire, formal events such as weddings are a whole other ballgame.  Sure, if you are a guy with a girlfriend or wife who can help you then you are in luck.  But maybe pass this along to your friends who only have their manly instinct to rely on when getting dressed for a formal event.

The other big question is what color suit to wear in the first place.  The tuxedo is on its way out of the wedding circuit, save for black tie affairs.  Modern groomsmen & male guests are opting for black, tan and gray suits.  And there is always the option of not wearing the full suit, instead sporting a suit vest or casual vest over a button up collared shirt.  I've collected a few images below, both from my Felicity C Weddings clients & ones I found online.  Enjoy!

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Diamond Wedding 5.21.10 Credit: Lindsay Hite/ ReadyLuck

Ford Wedding 9.25.10. Credit: Procopio Photography

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Attire, Alcohol & A Face Full Of Cake

As we are in the exact middle of summer, I'm sure that many of you have been at least one wedding this year.  All the attention at wedding is first on the couple, then their families and the wedding party.  But that doesn't excuse everyone else from being aware of their attire and actions.  Yes, there is a good chance that many guests will be in professional photos and you want to make a good impression.  Here is a quick list of do's and don'ts applicable for everyone involved:

1. Make sure that your clothes fit. No, really.  It is distracting and these photos are forever.  Attire, accessories and overall appearance are very important.  Obviously the bride's dress should not be too low and the groom's pant hem should not be too long- you should look your absolute best on your wedding day.  For guests, the same rules apply.  Men make sure your suit fits, coordinates AND is appropriate for the wedding.  Ladies, if you are wearing a short dress, make sure you have enough fabric to bend over, a few inches make all the difference.  If you are wear a long dress, practice walking & dancing so you don't trip.  And please take care of your tan lines ahead of time.  And lastly, know your jumping limits.

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2. Guests are part of the scenery, be on your best behavior.  Most guests are not aware of how many photos they will be in.  Touch up your makeup & make all attire adjustments in the bathroom.  Keep your club dance moves at home if you don't want them to be captured forever.  Don't drink your face off at the reception, that is why the professional photographer does not attend the afterparty.  These sound like basic rules but I have seen some of these party fouls for myself, it does happen.

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3. Again, these photos are forever. A little bit of cake on your nose is cute, a face full of smushed fondant is not.  Playfully reaching for the tossing bouquet is cute, leaping like a maniac is not.  Dressing up for the wedding is expected, attention-seeking attire is not (I'm looking at you, Princess Beatrice).  And lastly, picking your nose is never a 'do'.

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The air up there. In a plaid mini-skirt. Source

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Mismatching Is Not A Dirty Word

As a professional wedding planner, I have very few rules that I enforce on my brides.  The main rules are to ease in logistics for the wedding and as far as personal taste is concerned, I remain as neutral as possible.  But when brides press me for an opinion on decor that is not logistically based, I draw on ideas from my experience and research.  As many options there are for modern brides, there seem to be even more stress over the traditional wedding rules.  Decor and attire need to fit the wedding theme, season, formality and location.  But gone are the days that everything needs to match, instead coordinating elements to fit the aesthetic is the fresh way to style your wedding as a whole.

There is a fine line between throwing pieces together and style coordination.  The key to coordinating different elements into a cohesive style is finding one main similar factor.  Since this is such a broad rule, I've come up with a few examples to better explain.  For decor, you want china patterns for your table settings.  Your main factor can be that all of your plateware are flowery china patterns or they are different designs all in blue/red/whatever color you want.  This is enough of a base to keep an entire table of separate china designs looking whole.  Basically, the main theme has to be unifying, whether it be the material, color, design or shape. For centerpiece vases, the main factor could be that all the vases are glass or all one size if they are in different materials.  Color is a great unifier, different sizes & shapes of candles all in the same color family create a great visual.  The real advantage to this new style of coordinating elements is that aside from expensive rental companies, it is hard to find mass quantities of any one item.  Coordinating gives couples more freedom and can cut costs dramatically.

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The next is the wedding party attire, which includes the bridesmaids, groomsmen and all children involved.  Any woman who has been a bridesmaid knows the importance of 'wearability after the event' since those pretty dresses are not cheap.  Not to mention that if you get a bunch of women together, they are all going to have different body sizes and types so finding one dress can be difficult.  So what is the main factor for coordinating dresses?  You can either have the same dress in different colors or you can choose a few dress styles all in the same color or you can have different dresses that are in the same color family.  After you have the dresses figured out, then match the groomsmens' ties with the colors.  Hope this has given you a few ideas and possibly some courage to step outside the matchy-matchy box.  Enjoy!

 

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Knowing When To DIY

Personalized and cost effective are two words that come to mind when most brides decide to take on DIY projects.  In reality, "Do-ing It Yourself" can be overwhelming and stressful if you take on too much.  So how do you know what will be a great project and when should you leave it to professionals?  The main rule is to consider the actual amount of time/energy/money needed for the project.  Ask yourself if your bridesmaids available to help, can it be finished in a weekend, is this project really going to add to my wedding and are you really saving money by DIYing?  When DIY projects succeed, they are spectacular personal items with real sentiment.  On the down side, I did once see a reality tv bride stressed to the max scrambling to finish individually painting 200 mini pumpkins for her escort table the day before her wedding- who needs that hassle?

DIY items can range from decor to attire to favors to stationary.  The main areas brides should stay away from DIY are the vendors- especially forgoing professional photographers, caterers and rental companies. Any web savvy bride can find multiple DIY posts on wedding blogs each week.  Here are a few of my recent favorites.  The Wedding Chicks have a whole DIY section and frequently post on their blog DIY wedding details.  Like this post detailing how to make your own birdcage veil, this post giving instructions on how to make your own strawberry jam favors, or this post on how to create custom drop earrings.  Another one of my favorite blogs, Hostess With The Mostess, posted this floral DIY, making your own country chic decor.  This post on no sew bow ties is perfect for adding some prep from Style Me Pretty.  Last but not least, Ruffled blog showcased upcycling vases & lanterns.  Enjoy!

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A New Take On: The Victorian Era

The saying goes that fashion is always recycling itself in new ways.  I love the history of fashion and recently I have really gotten into the history of all things wedding- attire, decor, traditions, and details.  While marriage has been around since the beginning in one form or another, a lot of wedding traditions that we still have today started in the late 19th century.  "White did not become a popular option until 1840, after the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Victoria had worn a white gown for the event so as to incorporate some lace she owned. The official wedding portrait photograph was widely published, and many other brides opted for a similar dress in honor of the Queen's choice.  Prior to the Victorian era, a bride was married in any color, black being especially popular in Scandinavia" (source).

I thought it would be fun to create an inspiration board paying homage to the Victorian era.   Thanks to Queen Victoria, her namesake era was a time of opulence and great attention to luxurious details.  Not only are there a lot of pictures to use as a reference, but the ravishing Emily Blunt portrayed the infamous royal in "Young Victoria" and every detail in the movie was so gorgeous.  The main influences are lace, rich golds, blues, and reds, lots of florals, and opulent patterns.  While incorporating every Victorian detail would create a costume-party feel for a modern wedding, I like the idea of picking and choosing a few aspects to feature. Not sure where to start?  Here is an article on the modern take on Victorian wedding dresses.  For more ideas, hope you enjoy the Victorian wedding inspiration board!

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What Brides Can Learn From Award Shows

The 68th Annual Golden Globes ceremony was last night in Beverly Hills, CA and as someone who has been watching since I was a little girl, last night did not disappoint.  The Golden Globes is the love child of the Emmys and Oscars, celebrating the best actors in both television and cinema, so the star power in the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday evening was quite electric.  Like most award show revelers, I know that the red carpet is a huge part of the appeal and I love to play critic to all the fashion since celebrities set the gold standard.  They have infinitely more experience with grand events than us mere mortals so there is a lot that brides can learn from the red carpet, both good & bad.  I'm about to give you my two cents for the top 5 red carpet rules that can be applied to weddings.

#1. Wear what fits you, always.  The biggest celebrity fashion mistakes are not due to fabric or accessory choice, they are always due to selection of attire.  Knowing your body measurements and shape is the best tool for normal clothes and for your wedding day.  Basically, your wedding day is NOT the day to pretend you don't have the hips/arms/legs/chest/etc that you really do have.  Per always, Eva Longoria makes the most of what she has and wears her beautiful gown with confidence.

 

Credit: Lionel Hahn/ABACA

#2. Stand up straight and smile, smile, smile.  I think we can all agree that Sandra Bullock is gorgeous but without a smile she does not shine the way she normally does.  And neither will you if you aren't smiling on your big day.  I know it seems a daunting task to smile for a full day but these pictures will last forever and you want your grandkids to see you enjoying your wedding day!

 

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

#3. Pick either statement earrings OR a necklace to focus on, don't clutter your yourself.  If you have a high neckline, wear the statement earrings and if you have a lot of decolletage showing (in a tastful way), showcase a great necklace.  The only way to do both is making sure there is a delicate balance, say diamond solitare earrings with the matching necklace or even a pearl set.  If you are not sure, ask your bridesmaids- they will tell you the truth.  Catherine Zeta Jones is always flawless and chose to showcase speactaular earrings with her amazing dress at the Globes.   

Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage