Tuesday Shoesday Pt 7

Ok, so lots of these cute trouser shoes have been popping up lately. I particularly love them in Janelle Monae's Tightrope video (below). They are the perfect dancing shoe which is why I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. But today I found these blush colored patten leather trouser shoes on the Steve Madden website. When I saw them it hit me that these would be adorable reception shoes. They'd even be cute with a tea-length dress.


Janelle Monáe - Tightrope [feat. Big Boi]
Uploaded by AtlanticRecords. - See the latest featured music videos.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 6

OK, so if you looked at the BHLDN website, you had to know that I would fall in love with the shoes.

Here's why I love them: they look like gorgeous antiques. They tell a story. Each have intricate details. The colors are gorgeous. The blue pair to the right are called elopement pumps.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 5

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that these are Jessica Simpson Heels. They are the CHEETAH heels. A more modern take on a Mary Jane, they marry gorgeous colors for this spring with the blush camel and mahogany brown. I am in love. Consider something like this for you or your bridesmaids if you're going for a vintage feel.

Happy V-day from BHLDN

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!! BHLDN launched!!!!! I've been waiting for this day for a while now. Knowing how much I love Anthropologie, I knew that their wedding line would be absolutely to die for. The good news is that it is.

I'm not even surprised that gray and blush are the two highlighted colors on the site. I love the design and colors. I hate the prices. That's the one stinky thing. But I decided to put together an inspiration board of my favorite things.

I adore the gloves. My little sister has a massive scar on her left hand from cutting her hand open with a key. So a gorgeous set of gloves would be perfect for her.

If you're going to blow the budget, it would be fun to blow it on something like fun hair accessory or a unique bolero. Both are stand out pieces that could dress up even a $99 dress from David's Bridal.

Even if you can't afford a $3000 dress or $280 shoes, check out the site to get ideas for the look you want.

Jessica Simpson: Pinup Perfection

The other night I was perusing the Jessica Simpson Collection Web site. Looking at shoes and bags I stumbled upon her intimates section, which I didn't know existed. And true to form, I love it. After doing makeup on Sunday for a vintage shoot, I have a deep appreciation for these reminiscent undergarments. The photographer told me how it's really difficult to find things that work for shoots.

I love vintage inspired things. I would love to do a boudoir shoot in these sets. They are so gorgeous. Another great way to add originality to a boudoir shoot is to pick really original pieces to wear.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 4

OK, ok. So not what you suspected. These are the Rebok EasyTone Reenew - Lux shoes. I'm bringing these up because any bride or anyone who is going to be heading to nuptials this summer is probably worried about being in your best shape.

These are my Tuesday Shoesday pick for this week. Go to your closet and make sure your workout shoes are in good shape. Now is a good time to replace them and get excited to get back in the gym.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 3

These would be adorable for bridesmaids. I adore these shoes! They are from Victoria's Secret.

Biggest Wedding Blunders

If you've never seen the show "Four Weddings" on TLC, let me tell you, it's one of my favorite wedding shows. The concept is that four real brides come together to compete for a dream honeymoon. They each attend each others' weddings and rate them for experience, food, venue, and dress. It's hilarious because you get to hear everyone's caddy remarks. Usually it's surprising who wins. I love it when the woman with the lowest budget is the winner because it shows that the best weddings aren't the ones with the highest price, but the ones with the most thought and sentiment put into them.

Last Friday, "Four Weddings" had a Biggest Blunders episode. A lot of them were kind of overly critical. Some things brides really have no control over at all. But some of them were definitely worthwhile to point out. Most things aren't Do or Don't. Different factors contribute to whether or not something is a good idea for your wedding. It depends a lot on size and location of the wedding. So here are my picks for the biggest wedding day blunders:

1. Being Late to Your Own Wedding - Probably the most tacky thing is making your guests wait. I think there's an expected 15 minute swing time that allows for guests who are running late not to walk in during the middle. But anything more than that is kind of rude.

2. Not taking your vows seriously - Most people take marriage very seriously. It's definitely not appropriate to be drunk during your vows. It's ok to laugh out of nervousness, but people to expect some heartfelt sentiments and emotions rather than snickering. BUT DEFINITELY don't be drunk.

3. Disregarding the weather and environment - You have little control over the weather, but you do have control over the day and what precautions you take. Think about heaters, bug zappers, fans and a back-up plan in case of rain or terrible wind (makes the ceremony inaudible). Also look around, is there an airport nearby? Is there a highway close? Those noises will distract from your ceremony.

4. No View - Make sure that there aren't pillars in the way of your guests view of the ceremony. Also let you photographers and videographers know that you don't want guests' view blocked.
5. Reception Commute - Making guests drive an hour is a little excessive. I would say try not to have your wedding and reception more than 30 minutes away from one another.
6. Planning for those who didn't RSVP - A lot of people may not RSVP. Plan on it. I'd plan for about half of however many people don't respond. So keep track of Yes's and No's.

7. Bad dates - I have a rule of thumb with dates. If it's a small, mostly-family wedding, holiday weekends are a good idea because it allows for them to consolidate traveling. If you're wedding is big with lots of friends and business associates and distant relatives, I'd say opt for a date not centered around a holiday. Most people get frustrated if you interrupt their Memorial or Labor Day weekends because they want to make their own plans. If you do decide to make it over a holiday weekend, make sure there are other planned events for all of the out-of-towners. Middle of the week weddings should be reserved for smaller more intimate weddings.

8. Food - Food is tricky because you want to have what you love, but some people may be more picky than you. If you do decide to have adventurous food like Indian or Greek food, try to make sure there are some more generic, non-spicy, recognizable foods. Some people are very sensitive to spicy foods so make sure there's a way to distinguish the spicy foods. But I love the idea of doing anything besides the typical chicken, beef, mashed potatos, green beans, and dinner salad.

9. Buffet or No buffet - Buffets have their advantages. It allows people to pick exactly what they want and requires fewer hired hands. But when you have limited choices, it's not a big deal for people to have choices. Down sides include long lines and people taking over-sized portions. It's a double-edged sword. Talk to your caterer and see which option is more affordable, it might surprise you that some caterers charge less for a sit-down dinner because the portions are controlled.

10. Super Long Toasts - Only best man, the maid of honor, parents, and the couple should give toasts. Enough said.

11. Booze - people are touchy about alcohol. I say, it's your day, you decide if you want booze there are not. Open bars are expensive, people are expecting a lot. Guests should be understanding.

12. Being Completely Wasted - It's your day, don't you want to remember it?

Valentine's Day Inspiration Board

I've been to a gazillion wedding where the colors involve black, red and white. While I can understand the immediate jump to thinking that it is classy and black-tie-ish, often times it turns out awful.

One of the main reasons is the lack of attention to detail in choosing reds. While it would probably be impossible to match all your reds across the board, it is important to pick the right family of reds. A lot of reds turn out too brash and kind of orange-y. When in doubt, I advise to go darker.

My inspiration for this blog actually came from a Valentine's Day Etsy e-mail that I was sent. The necklace in the left-hand corner of my inspiration board here came from that e-mail. I was inspired by the deep hue of red used.

It feels romantic and upscale. When using reds, looking for rich looking color can help to enhance the look of the whole event. It can take you from bleak to chic.

Links: Hair Accessory, Necklace, Wedding Gown, Bridesmaid Dress, and Flowers.

Return of the Going Away Dress

A few weeks ago I was doing makeup at a Miss AMerica Party. There was an older woman there. She was the mom of one of the teacher's from my high school. All the younger women were dressing up in formal gowns for a little mini pageant. The woman talked about how she should have brought her "Going Away" Dress from her wedding. All the women at the party were like, "What's a going away dress?" I knew. Come on, "Father of the Bride" anyone? But I realized that the going away dress really has gone out which is kind of unfortunate because who doesn't love an excuse for another dress? It's romantic for a bride to put on something sweet like a cute dress or suit to run off to your honeymoon in.While this blog is about Going-Away Dresses, any of these styles could be worn at a Bridal Brunch or rehearsal.

I found this Delicate Flower Dress on Mod Cloth. I love the A-symmetry to it. This one could be gorgeous for the evening-of going away.

And I like the Cake From Scratch Dress. This slightly more casual dress would also be gorgeous as the morning after brunch dress.

Then I found the Debut of Venus Dress. This is definitely an evening-event dress. I see this as a going-away dress for after the reception or a dress for the rehearsal dinner. The Sweetheart neckline is gorgeous.

Finally, there's the Time of My Life Dress. This dress could work for any and all events. It's timeless and gorgeous.

Mod Cloth

So recently my friends Eric and Meredith got married. Meredith's bridesmaids wore mismatched dresses with tights and heels. One of them told me that Meredith picked a bunch of dresses out on Mod Cloth for them to choose from. She apparently had a huge range of dresses. Here is a narrowed list I found this weekend.

My first pick is the Lavender Wreath Dress. I love the fun texture and gradation of color. Great for someone in your bridal party with an athletic build.

The second dress I love is the Winding Rhodes Dress. Matching the Lavender Wreath Dress in color, this dress accentuates the waist. Definitely would look good on a curvy girl. The folds on the shoulder help to minimize large chests and the dark strap gives an A-symmetrical look while offering support.

The third is called the Calm After the Sandstorm. It is the mid-tone on the Lavender Wreath Dress. It marries the tiers from the Lavender Dress with the strapping on the Rhodes dress. This dress would work well on pear-shaped people because the tiers help it hang away from the body.

Fourth dress is called the Two Spoons Dress. It mirrors the tiered aspect of the others at the bottom and matches the color scheme but incorporates ruffles. This dress will add bulk to the chest area so it is not advised for chestier girls.

And the last one is called On Draped Adventures Dress. It is so freaking gorgeous. This one is a great color that meshes well with the others. The draping would look good on anyone especially curvy girls.

I hope this gives you some inspiration of what is possible with mismatching your dresses.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 2

I found this gorgeous Kate Spade sandal on the Nordstrom's Web site. It's in my favorite Blush color that I've been loving on lately.

You can also get it in a flat version to change into or for others in the wedding party (ok, so maybe they are a little pricey for that, but it's the concept). I've pulled a few other cute options that are more affordable.

To the right, we have a Calvin Klein blush color floral sandal.

The second one is from Badgley Mischka also in the blush color. It's between the Calvin Klein and Kate Spade in pricing.

The last one is on the more affordable side and is from Nina. Again in the blush color. On the Nina Web site, you can design your own from their swatch book.

Different Girls, Different Dresses

Bridesmaids dresses are most womens' worst nightmare. The combination of being forced to buy a dress that you don't particularly care for that is on the higher price side knowing that it will end up in the closet for years to come because it screams "Bridesmaid Dress" and because 5 of your girlfriends have the same one is a little disheartening. As a woman who has 3 bridesmaid dresses hanging in my closet, I am in love with all of these brides who are mismatching their bridal parties. But I especially love it when they take it one step further and shop for the dresses in the places that the bridesmaids would normally shop.

I'm featuring four dresses from Banana Republic. I love the different colors that are all in the same family but not the same color. The four different styles give bridesmaids options for their different body types and preferences.

If you're going to make your friends spend $100 on a dress, at least let it be one that she likes that she will want to wear again. I can assure you that most bridesmaids rarely wear those dresses bought from bridal boutiques ever again, so don't you dare utter, "You can shorten it and wear it again."

Winterizing Your Bridal Party

While at Target I was loving on all of the cute winter accessories that will soon be going away (they have already put out the swim suits). I've seen blog posts about winterizing the bride's wear, but I wanted to play with the idea of winterizing the bridesmaids.

Winterizing your bridesmaids is a fun way to add texture to photographs. Different textures and levels add interest to photos. It also gives you a way to do more photos outside without the bridesmaids freezing their butts off.

I picked a few selections from target that I like (but by all means search vintage shops for antique gloves or check out any shop with winter wear). Pick things with visual interest that pop off of the bridesmaids dresses. You don't have to match them, accent them.

If you know a bride who has done this, I'd love to see pictures!

Jeweled Hat - Beanie - Beret - Gloves - Leather - Scarfs - Fur

Must-Have Bridal Cosmetic

Today while at Target (seriously the most wonderful and evil store all in one place), I decided to pick up Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm.

I picked the colors "Passion" (bright flowery pink) and "Gothic" (Looked a bit like an orangey color but ended up surprising me). As soon as I got the chance, I decided to try Gothic. I was shocked to find that it was a deep red that got deeper as I layered it. It was gorgeous and incredibly vibrant. But it was much brighter than I expected.

The pink was also gorgeous, but bright. I wish I had picked a few of the more subdued colors to see the color payoff of those.

This is the perfect product for any bride because the stain has staying power, however when you use the balm it gives the color a lip gloss sheen. It's fabulous because the color not only stays, but it doesn't come off on the groom when you kiss him. It's the perfect combination. I recommend this product for any bride out there. Definitely give it a try!

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 1

Steve Madden's Glitsi shoe has me in love.

I think brides shouldn't skimp on the shoes. It's a fun detail to reveal to friends. It's also a favorite keepsake that can be shared with daughters in the future. These are a favorite of mine right now!

Shopping for Your Dress

Over the next few months I'm going to talk about shopping at different wedding shops in the Nebraska area, but I want to talk about different ideas for shopping for your dress.

In every aspect of the wedding industry, prices are jacked up just because of the word "bridal" in the title. Most different types of vendors give escalated rates for weddings (with the exception of a few types of vendors). No place is that more true as it is in the wedding gown industry.

So step back. Just because a store isn't a bridal boutique doesn't mean it doesn't house your wedding dress. On a recent trip to Los Angeles, my friend Allison and I were trying on formal gowns at the Nordstrom at The Grove. I sent a picture of me in a peach colored dress with a lace flower overlay. It was a gorgeous designer evening gown. Every person I sent it to thought that I was in a bridal boutique trying on dress (by the way, I have vowed to never put a gown on until I have a ring on my finger).

That's when it hit me that you don't have to go to a bridal store to get a great dress at a great price. The dress I was in was absolutely gorgeous and could have easily have been worn as a bridal gown. The best part is that is was only $400 and it was impeccable quality.

There are plenty of discount bridal stores that you can find a dress for around $400 or less, but take a look inside those dresses. Do you see any tags? No. They have been cut out because these dresses aren't the designer gowns they look like, and they aren't made of what the designer gowns are made of. Discount shops purchase inexpensive knock-off copies of famous designer gowns. They cut out the producer tag and the fabric tag to avoid you knowing exactly what it is you are buying. These dresses look a lot like their designer counterparts, but they are made of lower quality fabrics that may be more susceptible to staining and wrinkling. If the tags are cut out of a gown, proceed with caution.

There are lots of great boutiques that carry gorgeous gowns. But let me start with three major department stores that off fabulous white gowns that you can wear on your wedding day.

Nordstrom actually markets dresses for brides as both gowns and reception dresses. These gowns are at great prices with a guarantee of high quality gowns.

Macy's also is marketing white gowns as bridal attire as well. You can also search in their bridal area for bridesmaids dresses, which I'll talk more about in a later post.

Saks Fifth Ave doesn't specifically market to brides with their fashions, but they carry an extensive line of evening gowns with plenty in white.

It's difficult to see the difference in quality over the internet. I encourage you to go into a discount store and take a look around and then step into a Macy's or Nordstroms and just feel the fabrics. You'll be able to get a much higher quality dress for a comparable price. And by all means, if you have the budget to purchase a full-price designer wedding gown, go for it.

Lingerie for the Bride

Many brides overlook buying their own bridal lingerie hoping that their friends will buy them something wedding night appropriate. But I've been to far too many bacherlorette parties where the bride only receives cotton panties.

Don't hope that your friends will get you something you and your hubby-to-be will like, go out and get it yourself! Here are some fun ideas:
1. Romance - This night gown from La Petite Coquette by Jane Woolrich Design. The waterfall design skims the butt and the soft silk gives a beautiful barely-there feeling. This design is very romantic. It's definitely not what most people expect to see. The back is a fun surprise. I love that it is a little bit more formal and, dare I say, proper. If you're ever going to splurge on lingerie, this is the night.

2. Personalized - I found these panties on Etsy. The seller MichaelAngela creates lots of cute personalized items for the wedding day including sweatshirts and ring-bearer pillows. I love these panties for day-of wear. They are great because you could continue to wear them after the wedding because they don't say "bride." The cheeky design would also go great with a teddy the wedding night. The groom seeing his name on your behind will definitely be a nice surprise. One thing to be mindful of with these is if they will show through your dress. Make sure you try them on with the dress to be sure.

3. Over the Top - Victoria Secret offers a dramatic Sexy Little Bride look. If you want to rock a fun look on your wedding night, this would be the one. You can probably only wear this on your wedding night and maybe on your anniversary. I love the accompanying veil and garter. It really pushes the look over the top.

4. Vintage Inspired - This corset, pantie and stocking combination is very sexy and understated from Frederick's of Hollywood. I adore this look. It goes well with the popular vintage wedding style.

Whatever kind of look you choose for your wedding night, I say don't hold back and think about what your groom would like. This is the one night that you can justify going all out with the special Glamour Girl Slipper and garter belt. Go for it!

Pretty in Pink-new favorite neutral

There is something I love about this pale pink. I've never been a huge fan of pink of than for it's positive affects when placed against one's complexion. But I am falling in love with the idea of this lovely pink as a neutral for wedding day. It's almost nude but still pink. Here are a few of my favorite accessories in the gorgeous blushing colour.

Looking very sophisticated herself in the soft, nude pink is Miss Taylor Swift for the people's choice awards. Her dress has a vintage feel at a modern length.

Chinese Laundry Shoes. I think that foot wear is the best way to make a statement on your wedding day. These pink shoes are gorgeous, soft and feminine while have the gladiator feel. I am a huge fan of shoes that wrap around because that makes them instantly more comfortable than shoes that do not.

BCBG Purse. I saw this purse at Von Maur and I knew I had to have it. It goes with pretty much any dressy outfit I own. It's the perfect clutch for a bride because it carries a lot while also being soft and just a bit glitzy.

BCBG Maxazria Dress. Very Cute dress that could be used as a bridesmaid's dress. This just goes hand-in-hand with the idea of not purchasing at a bridal boutique.