September 27, 2012

Is it time for the gloves to come off?


Are bridal gloves outdated? Such a loaded question that I  get asked all the time.  I would say yes and no. There are certain types of gloves that still look stylish and chic even though they have that vintage air about them, and then there are others that need to stay put in the 1990s and never show their faces again.  Below is a breakdown of the different types of bridal gloves

[1]The gloves I like the least








These two photos show the type of bridal gloves that are most commonly sold in bridal salons. There is nothing wrong with these gloves per se, except that they aren't the most flattering options available and here is why
  •  In my opinion full fingered gloves belong outdoors in Fall and Winter.  We aren't in the Victorian era and it's never practical to wear full fingered gloves in doors especially not in satin or stretch fabrics. Full fingered gloves also take away focus from the rings, engagement and wedding rings usually look so much better on a bare finger than worn over a glove.
  • Fingerless gloves with the loop for the middle finger like the one shown above, rarely fit properly. They always end up sagging, ruching, and constantly needing to be adjusted. They are also often made out of the cheapest fabrics and really lower the overall look of the bride. In addition they usually feature lace cut outs or lace trims, that have very dated patterns and exaggerated designs that look more like prom queen than bridal.
[2] The gloves I like the most 
The stunning crystal encrusted cuffs by Ines Di Santo shown below just blow me away. They are a hybrid between a bracelet and a fingerless glove, and they are just fabulous. I have been crushing on these gloves for going on 3 years now and they still have not lost their appeal.  









Aren't they dreamy? Yes I thought so too and actually planned to buy a pair for my wedding. I called them up to order a pair and was told they start at around $500. That was my wake up call! $500 for a pair of cuffs? No thank you. Okay I understand that the crystal embellishments are expensive, but that is still way too much for a humble bridal writer like myself to spend on just an accessory! There are wedding gowns that cost less than that!
Regardless of the price, this style of glove is currently my favorite for a wedding. The sheer fabric gives it a "barely there" feel so it compliments the gown in a subtle way rather than loudly clashing with it. It also leaves your fingers bare for easy access to the rings.



[3]The gloves I like a little bit 









Vintage looking gloves made out of delicate lace or crochet have the potential to look sweet and endearing and can add a romantic air to the outfit. I'm not in love these but I do like them depending on the style of dress and the theme of the wedding. The third picture with the delicate buttons on the inside of the wrist are my favorite in this category.


xoxo
  

September 11, 2012

Head table or sweetheart table?


Source



Having a hard time deciding between a head table or a sweet heart table for your wedding reception? Read all about the pros and cons of both here.  I adore the look of sweethearts but love the practicality of a head table. My ideal situation is a head table with a maximum of 8 people including the bride and groom. ( bride + groom + maid of honor + best man + parents of bride & groom) Because honestly what good is it to have a maid of honor if she is sitting on another table from me! The most stylish sweetheart tables are half rounds although some rectangular or round tables can look just as good. The glass sweetheart table above is just too beautiful for words albeit not very practical since the table is tiny! I especially love the bride and groom chair covers; simple, chic and perfect!!!

A happy compromise between a head table and sweetheart would be a sweetheart table sandwich; ie a small sweetheart table with two round tables on either side seating the bridal party and parents.

Draped fabric and table skirts are the most common options for decorating the head table or sweetheart table combined with flowers, lace and even lights. The photos below show many different style options for sweethearts and head tables




Source




Stay stylish!
xoxo

September 5, 2012

Confessions of a DIY addict

I simply love DIY projects. I just love seeing the transformation from every day items into beautiful crafts. The DIY weddings series will feature tutorials on how to make or customize certain elements of your wedding decor.  First up in the series is DIY pomanders. Pomanders are beautiful and so multi-functional! Some of the many ways they can be used are as folllows
  • Carried by flower girls in place of the traditional basket of petals
  • Carried by bridesmaids in place of bouquet
  • Aisle decoration
  • Centerpieces
  • Ceiling decoration
  • Arch decoration
The sky is the limit on how these can be used.  I posted this tutorial of how I made my DIY pomanders and here are the photos of my first attempt and the final result






A couple of things to keep in mind.
- Dont bother buying a mini glue gun, it is much better to buy a full size one. The mini guns can get annoying to use and constantly need to be refilled with glue.
- When working with styrofoam, ALWAYS turn the hot glue gun down to the lowest heat setting.  I learnt this the hard way when I melted the entire center of one ball by using glue that was too hot. The rubber band was eventually replaced with ribbon!
-You dont have to use flowers in your pomander, you can also use tulle, or even ribbon.

For insiration on how to incorporate pomanders in  your wedding check out the photos below.