Sex and the City Vogue shoot

May is truly one big “celebrationpalooza” for me. I have mother’s day, my dad and stepmoms anniversary, my husband’s 29th b-day, my dogs 6th b-day, my little brothers 5th b-day, my little sisters 16th b-day, my good friends jessi’s b-day, and finally ending the month is yours truly (I will be 26!). I have to be honest, out of the countless celebrations I have to look forward to; I am most excited for mine. Want to know why??? For two years in a row, I have had a special present of having the Sex and the City movie released on my birthday weekend!!
In light of Sex and the City 2 opening in 28 days, I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to the lovely Vogue wedding shoot in the first film. For someone like me to be on the set that day would have been my idea of heaven. All the shoes, jewelry, designer gowns, and SJP (I can hear the angels singing).

Real life Vogue photographer, Patrick Demarchelier, shot Sarah Jessica Park that day in seven different designer gowns. Many people don’t know that creator Michael Patrick King actually wanted an additional dress to be featured in the shoot. A Yves Saint Laurent dress from the 60’s collection. Sadly, none of the movies pleas were convincing enough for the YSL foundation and the dress stayed in France.

In the end, there is only one dress with which Carrie falls in love- the Vivienne Westwood. After the shoot, Westwood sends Carrie the dress as a gift, and the rest, of course, is movie history.

Christian Lacroix

Lanvin

The winner, a one of a kind

Vivienne Westwood

from the Fall 2007 collection.

Mirand, Charlotte, and Samantha all wore Zac Posen gowns paired with Dior shoes.

My favorite was Charlottes.

To look at all the dresses featured in the shoot, enjoy this clip from the movie

Shoes Day Tuesday

I'm in LOVE

Gold, sparkley, and with bows!

What more could you ask for?

Photo by: Jasmine Star

This Kate Spade pumps are available here

3 minutes of romantic inspiration

Back in February I had the pleasure of attending a workshop in Charlotte North Carolina put on by Ivy Robinson. Her work is amazing! I learned so much in the few days I was there. I was blown away by the new mock up she did for style me pretty. This video inspires me to expand my creativity. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Earth Day

Since today is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environmentt. I thought I would do a special post on how you can incorporate being "Green" in your wedding.

God has created such a beautiful earth for us, why not say thanks by helping to take care of His creation.

These invitations from use 100% recycled PCW paper, which means no new trees are used and averts waste from landfills.Envelopes consist of 100% PCW paper, are FSC-certified, made with green energy, processed chlorine free. Offset CO2 emissions resulting from direct shipments through carbonfund.org.

www.green-weddings.net is a fabulous resource for all things "green"

            You know I love me some Etsy!!

             Big companies such as paperdivas.com now offer eco-friendly invites.

In 2009 Mireya Navarro came out with the book Green Wedding.

Green Weddings shows us that there are alternatives--products and services that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous and stylish celebration.The book presents ideas for maximizing the sustainability of every aspect of your ceremony and reception.

Another great book...

Maybe you aren't as earth friendly as you wish you were but it's okay to start small even the smallest act can make a difference. Incorporating a green lifestyle takes time so today just pick one thing to do and start "growing" from there (sorry for the pun couldn't help myself haha).

Visit www.ecofriendlytips.com to learn new ways to help this beautiful earth God created for us.

Shoes Day Tuesday!

There are no words to describe how obsessed I am with these shoes!

A custom made shoe adornment by feathers and frills $28.00 attached

to these light blue sling back Christian Louboutins $795.00

Photo credit: Justin & Mary Photography

Sit in Style

We have all walked into a ballroom and gasped at the tacky gold rimmed chairs. If there is one element that can make or break your decor aesthetic, it is the chairs you choose. Fortunately, there are several options on the rental market. Here are a few for you to choose from...

The Chiavari (pronounced shih-vahr-ee) these are a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor weddings. The are versatile, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors. Chiavaris run about $6-$12 a piece depending on where you live.

A pricer option ($35-$50 each) is the Ghost Chair. The ghost chair is a newer option for those looking for a sleek and contemporary chair. More and more rental companies are adding  these chic ghost chairs to their inventory. They make a statement by complimenting your decor rather than competing with it.

Chameleon Chairs- These trendsetting designer chairs can be mixed and matched to offer endless color and pattern options.  Chameleon adds style to every environment.

The Alice Pop Chair- Classic black and white or bright and bold, they are sure to make a statement! These fabulous chairs are from Fete Accompli.

The Resin- These wooden padded folding chairs are a popular option for outdoor ceremonies and are great on the wallet ranging from $2.25-$4.00 per chair. They come in a variety of colors and can be dressed up with a chair tie, ribbon, or flowers.

Spring Ranunculus

The beautiful weather we have been blessed with this April has me excited for the start of wedding season! One of my absolute favorite things about spring (besides the sunny spring days) is the arrival of all the gorgeous flowers.
One flower which always seems to grasp my attention is Ranunculus. Ranunculuses are particularly perfect for a spring wedding and sometimes are commonly referred to as Buttercups. These cost effective flowers typical season ranges from January to May (give or take a month depending on weather). The Ranunculus is a delicate bloom with exceedingly gleaming petals. These flowers are great for outdoor weddings remaining fresh when other types of flowers tend to wilt in heat. Ranunculus come in a wide array of colors including white, pale pink, yellow, red, orange, peach, and my personal favorite hot pink!

Perfect for a garden wedding.

My favorite!!

Photo Credit: James Christianson

My addiction to ETSY.

Typically when you start planning your wedding you immediately focus attention to the big things; dress, cake, flowers, location. Towards the end is when the small things can overwhelm you; wedding party gifts, welcome bags, escort cards, programs, the list goes on and on. Fortunately, there are many sources available for brides to find these smaller details. My favorite resource for the past year has been ETSY.com if you haven’t been on this site, get on NOW! I can sit for hours browsing the countless categories of handmade products created by independent artists. I have bought presents for Christmas, things for my house, and of course fabulous finds for a few of my clients’ weddings.

Cuff links, Save T. Dates, programs, invites, hair pieces, something blue, garter, jewelry, attendant gifts, guest books, flutes, card boxes, anything you can think of it’s on ETSY. After just 15 minutes of looking here are some of my finds…

These escort candles and table numbers are $0.75 each and come pre printed!

These invites are a little expensive at $7.95 a piece but I am OBSESSED!

Great way to add personalization to your wedding.

$78.00 for the 3 pc.set

This is the actually sign my bride Hallie got for her outdoor tented reception.

It was a great deal at $30.00

Hair pins $32.00

Personalized with your initials $15.00

Love these Save the Dates. 24 for $45.50 including envelopes.

The more you purchase the more you save.

All of these artists on ETSY are incredible.

Groom Edition of Shoes Day Tuesday

Weddings have evolved so much in just the past few decades. There was a time were weddings were as predictable as clockwork. A white dress, a black tux, tacky bridesmaid dresses, a standard ceremony and vows. Rice throwing cans clanking and tied to your car. All topped off with a white-icing cake and a traditional song.
Times have changed! Weddings now range from very traditional and orthodox ceremonies to getting hitched while scuba diving or bungee jumping. There is now so much possibility in how you can plan and personalize your wedding.
One way of expressing your personality at your wedding is, of course, your SHOES!! The shoe industry has millions of designers, the selection is endless. Therefore, if your groom has only worn dress shoes once or twice in his life, why make him on your wedding?
A popular new choice for men is customized converses. He can pick his style, color, and have your initials or wedding date added the back of his shoes.

You know I love me some heels but these customized converses are also available for women.

Available at http://www.converse.com/ for $65.00

 

Hop back into shape!

Yesterday, being Easter Sunday, I’m sure most of you enjoyed the beautiful weather, time with family, and most importantly indulging on the loads of Easter candy. I know I had my fair share of Jellybeans, Peeps, Chocolate Bunnies, Marshmallow Candies, and of course my personal favorite Cadbury Eggs (Yum!). But guess what?! Today is Monday, the holiday has come and gone, and now it is time to take all of that extra candy and get rid of it. Take it to your co-workers, throw it in the trash, donate it…I don’t care how you dispose of it, but get it out of your house. It’s time to get your bridal booty back on track. Fortunately, there are endless resources available to help you find an appropriate plan that best suits your own personal lifestyle.


A few great places to start and some of my personal suggestions include:

Magazine Guides: Bride and Shape magazine have joined forces to create a new magazine (cleverly) called Shape Bride. Their first issue features Melissa Rycroft on the cover is on stands now. Some highlights in the issue include an 8-week diet plan and exercises tips Melissa swears by. Even if you’re not planning on walking down the aisle soon, this magazine is not solely for brides. The magazine is a great resource for achieving a healthier lifestyle. I know I’ve enjoyed the first issue thus far; it’s a great switch up from my normal routine.

Bridal Boot Camp: This has become a popular new trend to help brides-to-be get in shape for their special day. Normally B.C. meets four times a week for approximately four weeks. Luckily, because of its recent success and popularity, many gyms and personal trainers around the Columbus area are offering these bridal boot camps. Don’t forget to keep following my blog for a more in-depth post on Bridal Boot Camp. Coming Soon!

Exercise on Demand: I completely understand that time is of the essence for mostly everyone, and going to the gym on a regular basis is not always feasible. Let’s face it, by the time you get dressed, pack a gym bag, drive there, get in a 45 minute workout, and make it back home you are figuring at least a 1 hr 25 min. ordeal. Above all, gym memberships are EXPENSIVE!! If you have Time Warner, I have a solution: it’s called Exercise on Demand (Channel 426). The best part, it has a little bit of everything. Quick 10 minute abs to full blown out cardio sessions. Sessions with Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner, and striptease with Carmen Electra (could be fun for the honeymoon!). Also the on demand channel features Pilates, yoga, dance, and even its own version of bridal boot camp. It’s fun, convenient, and free!

Inspirations from Vegas

Inspiration can best be described as: Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. Through inspiration a sudden creative act or idea is made. Typically many brides peruse wedding books and magazines to develop a sense of inspiration and get that spark of creativity. I, on the other hand, enjoy discovering my inspirations from anywhere and everywhere.

I have come to learn some of my best inspirations (by far) come from my travels. I love it!! But, I HATE to fly. In the past six months I have been fortunate enough to journey to Riviera Maya, Mexico, Texas, Porta Plata Dominican Republic, and most recently Las Vegas. My Vegas vacation was a long weekend with my girlfriends to discuss, discover, and develop new inspirations. The city offers a wide array of truly unique and amazing hotels, restaurants, shopping, shows, and art galleries. They are insane! I’ve actually been to Vegas a total of 8 times and still have yet to see everything I wish to see and explore.

My past trip to Vegas we stayed at the new Aria hotel, which opened their doors this past Christmas. The rooms were incredible and featured state of the art technology (the toilet seats were even heated!!). If you enjoy a modern atmosphere, this is definitely a place you have to visit. I could not stop photographing the contemporary décor and design of the hotel. I am now itching for a super modern wedding. Our hotel was also home to two Jean Philippe Patisserie shops. He takes sugar and truly turns it into art. The Aria boasted some great shopping with their Crystal Shops. The Crystal Shops is home t the 5th largest Louis Vuitton store in the world. I found a great pair of shoes I was planning to blog about next Tuesday but was scolded for taking pictures (oops!). Unfortunately the price tags of many of the items located in the Crystal Shops were way beyond my means, but it’s always fun to look. I had the chance to see and touch dresses you only see in magazines or on the runway. There was a Robert Cavalli gown I would have to pay money just to try on, it was stunning! I hope you enjoy my photos!


 

Jean Philippe creation. The worldest tallest and largest chocolate fountain.

6 pumps circulating 2 TONS of chocolate.

The whole outside wall of Aria is water.

The design of WET; the same team who did the water show for the Belliago.

Inside the Crystal shops.

More of Jean Philippe's work. I seriously took about 50 pictures.

 

I love these trees!!

Carolina Herrera wedding gown.

Dale Chihuly art gallery next to Aria.

He is a glass sculptor, you might have seen his ceiling display in the lobby of the Belliago.

My room! Wish my bedroom at home looked like this.

If the planning of your wedding has you stressed out and you decide you want to elope or your going to Vegas for your bachlorette party, I hightly suggest staying at Aria.

Remember to stop and look around next time your out, you never know when you'll find something that might inspire your creativity