The Finishing Touch — Weddings, Events, Design, Paperie

We have all seen the film 27 Dresses by now, and we know how it can be to have a closet full of bridesmaid dresses and nowhere to wear them all.

No need to worry!

Dessy Group has launched a new website called NewlyMaid.com where you can send in your old bridesmaid gowns and receive credit toward new ones. You simply request a prepaid envelope from NewlyMaid.com, package it according to the directions given and send over your old dress inside of it. Your dress can be designed by almost any brand, and as long as it is not damaged you will receive anywhere from 30-50% off towards one of their six black dress styles. After the discount, the six black dress styles cost around $75-$100 each. Your old bridesmaid dress will either be broken down and recycled or donated to Clothes4Souls.

This is a great chance to do some shopping, and help others and the environment all at once!

Recently we shared some unique wedding guest book ideas with (the newly engaged) Laura Adams from (201) Bride. Check out some of the ways you can incorporate a unique guest book on your big day!

Hang It Up: Beautiful branch arrangements are always eye catching so creating a guest book out of one is sure to grab your guests’ attention! Work with your planner to coordinate a branch arrangement that is complementary of your wedding decor. Using ribbon tags, the written well wishes will hang from the branches and will “blossom” with kind words by the end of the night.

Piece It Together: A puzzle guest book can be custom designed and cut just for your wedding day. By customizing the shape and design to be something significant to you and your fiancé such as hobbies or activities makes it even more memorable. Your guests will love to write notes and sign their very own piece of the puzzle. This is a great alternative because it’s a fun activity for your wedding guests and a piece of art you can frame to enjoy everyday.

Mail it Out: In place of a book, have your guests fill out custom-designed postcards where they can write their well wishes. The postcards can feature images that are special to you, such as photos of you and your fiancé, places that you have traveled, your custom monogram – the options are endless! Have guests place the postcards into an actual mailbox set nearby that you could even use for your new home.

Read more about unique guest book ideas on (201) Bride’s Exclusive only on Bergen.com!

This is one fab find we couldn’t wait to share. As planners and designers, we are always working with our clients to incorporate special details throughout the big day to make it even more memorable – and what can be more memorable then giving back? TOMS shoes has come up with a fun Wedding Collection featuring shoes for brides, grooms, bridal parties and beyond! With every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS shoes will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. Read more about the movement here.

Check out their super cute promo video –

From canvas wedges to sparkley flats, these uber comfy kicks are great to dance the night away in while making a difference in a child’s life. Check out the entire collection and more about TOMS movement!

We fell in love with the latest bridal collection from Kate Spade! From dresses, shoes, jewelry and more this new line is a must see. Check out some of TFT’s picks from this stunning collection!

These super cute dresses are perfect for an engagement party, bridal shower, or rehearsal dinner. These would even be perfect for a simple and sweet ceremony.

Looking for something blue? Check out these chic strappy heels that will be sure to add to your wedding day look. Or if you prefer something with a little glitz, we can’t resist these multicolor sparkle peep toes!

This ‘I Do’ necklace is such a great accessory to have throughout the planning and beyond! It is so versatile it is sure to complete any outfit.

What about your bridesmaids -stumped on what to get them? Check out this glamified bangle bracelet that boasts ‘partners in crime’, ‘peas in a pod’ and other cute engraved phrases.

If your looking to ‘Wow!’ your gals, present them with these stunning chandelier earrings that will accent their gowns on your wedding day.

You can’t go wrong with a Kate Spade handbag and we love this ivory shoulder bag – we’re sure your girls would love it too!

Be sure to check out all of these and more on the Wedding Belles collection from Kate Spade!

One of the latest trends for Spring and Summer weddings is posing with some picture perfect parasols! These beautiful pieces can create unique and memorable photo ops at any location. Not only do they provide fabulous photos, but can be a great addition to offer to your guests. If you are having an outdoor affair where the sun may be a factor, consider having one available for each  guest to use -these make for a great favor or keepsake!

Looking for an eye catching color to provide some contrast with your bridal party? Talk with your planner about coordinating your parasol selections so they will be sure to complement your color scheme. For 2012, some of the hottest colors are pastels such as lilac and celedon as well as bright and vivid hues like electric pink and of course, Pantone’s color of the year tangerine tango. Check out some of our favorite shades that can be found on Cultural Intrigue.

We love the addition of parasols at weddings and events as they certainly add a very special touch! This great shot was taken by our good friends at The Studio Photographers at Mallard Island Yacht Club – how much fun is that?!

Brooch bouquets are all the rage and we love that we are seeing more and more all the time!

This winter, many brides heading down the aisle will be carrying these personal and stylish bouquets.

Check out these brooch bouquets that we adore for winter weddings!

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This brooch bouquet captures the winter with white, silver and a dash of blue. We love the handle wrapped and tied with beautiful beading.

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This classic all white bouquet features floral brooches mixed with snowflake pins for an elegant yet subtle winter theme.

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Deep red, black and white is a stunning color palette for a winter affair. Check out this brooch bouquet that incorporates real red roses, feathers and silver pendants.

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Also donning feathers, this beautiful bouquet has a crisp wintry look that would compliment any wedding gown during the season. This bouquet combines feathers, pendants, pearls and crystals with the handle wrapped in a satin bow.

Looking for color at your winter wedding? This royal purple is an amazing choice for a bride looking to stand out on her day. Incorporating shades of purple complimented with silver and black, this bouquet is one to surely be remembered.

Today’s fab find is for the guys!

Anthony Logistics for Men has created this great essentials kit to keep the men looking their best on their big day. This kit is the perfect gift for the groom as well as his groomsmen, and will ensure they will be looking and feeling fresh. Included in this package is facial cleanser, facial scrub, pre shave oil, shaving cream, after shave balm, sea salt body scrub, and hand/body lotion all packed inside a reusable Dopp kit. It also includes a ‘Grooming the Groom’ instruction card to explain when and how to use each product. This kit was also created to be travel size and is airline approved so it will be ready to go for the honeymoon!

Check out more on this product here!

One of the easiest ‘to-do’s’ to check off our list was inviting our bridal party. Since our engagement, Greg and I had no doubt in our minds who we would invite to stand beside us on our big day. The big question was, how would I ask them? I wanted to do something special to let each of them know just how important they are to me and how they have impacted my life. After some brainstorming, I decided to create a video that featured some photos and memories and incorporate a ‘proposal’ to my bridesmaids!

With a little help (ok a LOT of help!) from our good friend Damon of Absolute Media Productions, we decided to create a fun six minute video that would build some laughs and bring a few tears to my gals eyes. Damon wanted to incorporate my personality and style throughout the video as I discussed each bridesmaid, so we decided to go with a ‘Sex and the City‘ theme and drew up a storyboard. In just one day, we shot all of the scenes, recorded all audio and in what was sure the fastest turnaround time ever, by the next day Damon had created an amazing film that I couldn’t wait to share with my ladies!

I invited the girls over for dinner on a Sunday afternoon and prepared some hors d’oeuvres and martinis (of course!) for them to enjoy while I prepared our main dish. Once seated for dinner, and yes there were placecards, we all enjoyed catching up and chatting over some homemade risotto.

As the girls finished up, I snuck out to set up the movie and invited them to watch a special presentation. They had no idea what to expect and their reaction was priceless. There were many, many laughs and way more tears than I expected and when the big question was asked they all said yes! Check out the video here:

Back in the dining room, I reset the table with little cards at each setting asking ‘Will You be my Bridesmaid?’ along with a small info sheet sharing some of the wedding details we have so far. Since I now had six beautiful bridesmaids, we had to celebrate by having some dessert! A big thank you to Paula from Cake Fiction who created beautiful (and delicious!) custom mini-cakes for each of the girls that had their initial along with two rings on top.

It was such an amazing night and it meant so much to have all of my girls together for one special evening. I am so lucky to have them along for the journey and to have them by my side on our big day on January 12, 2013!

 A Huge THANK YOU again to the fabulous Damon Dietz of Absolute Media Productions and Paula Tosonotti of Cake Fiction!

With the new year just around the corner, engaged couples everywhere are looking for the latest trends to make their wedding stand out in 2012. From Victorian fashion, towering tiered cakes to bold themed weddings, we take a look at some of the exciting new trends you will find all through the next year!

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Colors:
For 2012, there will be quite a variety of colors seen throughout. With tangerine tango announced as Pantone’s color of the year for 2012, this will be seen on tablescapes and bridesmaids everywhere! Bold, dramatic colors such as red and black will make a comeback and be seen accompanied with lace accents and overlays. Pastels will be making an appearance through the spring with yellow, sage and lilac taking the lead. Neutral colors such as beige tones and cool blues will also be found for a more natural and organic vibe.

Tangerine Tango

Black/Red Victorian

Pastels

Bridal Fashion:
2012 is year of the lace! Victorian styled gowns are all the rage for 2012. High necklines, long sleeves, full skirts and lots of lace will be seen on many brides heading down the aisle. With Kate Middleton’s gown as inspiration, this trend will be around well through the next year. All black wedding gowns are also making their move into everyday bridal fashion. Always pushing the envelope, fashion designer Vera Wang debuted her line of black wedding gowns this Fall which have caught the attention of many brides to be.

Florals:
Simple bouquets that are classic and elegant will be found often next year. Small pairings of roses, peonies and hydrangeas in blush, ivory and white will be found in the hands of brides and bridesmaids alike. Bouquets will be adorned with pearls, lace and feathers. Custom brooch bouquets are also on the rise which is great for brides of any budget.

Themes:
Themed weddings are making a strong comeback. From old Hollywood Glitz & Glamour to Vintage Big Top Circus, bold themes will be common among couples saying ‘I Do’ in 2012. Themes will be carried throughout the wedding with decor, florals and custom invitations and stationery. Going with their theme, couples will be bringing in additional entertainment along with their DJ or band such as acrobats, magicians, specialty singers/dancers and more.

Cakes/Favors:
Dessert is going to be a main focus in 2012. Wedding cakes will be tiered higher then ever before but the styles will become more minimalist. White cakes with hand painted designs full of color will be seen and many couples will incorporate patterns from their invitations and stationery. Flavors will also be taking it to the next level! 2011 was the year of red velvet but the new year will bring in more exotic flavors such as passion fruit, mango rum and pomegranate. With edible favors still trending, couples are opting for late night snack bars and coffee to go stations with cupcakes, cookies, pastries and more. Guests better be ready to eat when they head to a wedding in 2012!

Honeymoon/Registry:
Couples in 2012 are looking for adventure! Heading to an exotic location such as Thailand or embarking on a safari in Africa has been replacing the all inclusive beach honeymoon trend. In order to experience the most during their trip, couples have created registries that allow guests to contribute towards excursions, meals, and outings during their honeymoon. Online registries such as Cloud 9 Living offer an easy to use website and encourages couples to create memories that will last a lifetime.

When attending an outdoor wedding or event, you never know what type of terrain you may encounter. Whether it’s grass, gravel, cobblestones etc., it could be a challenge to tackle in heels as any heel lover can attest to. You want to dress up – but you don’t wanna sink in – so what do you do? Well, TFT fell in love with the solution and we’ve found our ‘SoleMate‘!

SoleMates High Heeler^® has been designed to attach to stilettos of many shapes and sizes to prevent the heel from sinking into grass or becoming stuck in cracks! The addition of a SoleMates High Heeler^® increases the area at the base of the heel which reduces the pressure and prevents the struggle on ‘rough’ terrain! It is super easy to use as it just slips right over the heel and won’t damage the shoe – and they are super discreet! They offer them in 3 sizes – classic, narrow and wide – and they come in clear, black, silver or gold. These are great gifts for any heel lover!

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, SoleMates is offering a fabulous Holiday Gift Set with their ‘Deck the Heels’ collection! This is the perfect stocking stuffer for the shoe lover in your life. Be sure to check them out and get your pair!