2009 Wedding Gown Trends

Today's post is from Christina Demarco and she unveils the bridal fashion trends for 2009. It's time to say good-bye to A-line wedding gowns. 2009 brings new looks in bridal wear and Cristina DeMarco (Vice President and General Manager of Bridal Reflections in New York) shares with us what's hot in bridal styles that will suite even the most fashion forward and traditional brides.
1. Cap Sleeves: Keeping your shoulders covered may be favorable in some churches but it is also stylish, sophisticated, and sexy. "Cap sleeves show off a lot of skin while simultaneously keeping a sense of mystery by covering your shoulders," states DeMarco. Look for St. Pucchi for the best in this trend.

2. Soft-Ware: You'll see less and less bold hardware and beading on the gowns because the latest looks keep treatments subdued. "You'll see lots of delicate beading this year," she says. Gowns will still have intricate treatments but with a rich, fine look. Look for Ines Di Santo for the best in this trend.

3. Rich Fabric: It's all about the fabric this season from rich taffeta and delicate lace, to heavy silk. Choosing your fabric is just as important as the style and cut because it really brings your whole look together.

4. Cut: Sexy, low-cut backs are making their way down the aisle as are V-neck cuts in the front. "More and more brides are moving away from the strapless, A-line gown. Styles are evolving to help brides show off their best assets, whether that it their arms, neck, or back." Look for Ramona Keveza for the best in this trend.

Thank you Christina for sharing these trends with us.

Dress Designers: (all images courtesy of Bridal Reflections)
Top Left {St. Pucchi} Top Right {Ines Di Santo} Bottom Left {Avine Perucci} Bottom Right {Ramona Keveza}

Trendy Jewelry for Brides and Bridesmaids

Today's post is an article written by Bonnie from BonitaJ.com (we'll be having a contest sponsored by her in November)
With such a fashion forward world it makes sense that brides would choose trendy jewelry for both themselves and their bridesmaids. There are types of jewelry that will become dated and look old; however there are many new trendy bridal jewelry options that transcend time.

Chunky necklaces with vintage looks are one of the newer looks this season. Using quality products like Swarovski pearls and crystals, these chunky vintage necklaces look gorgeous on the bride or her maids. Large pendant style necklaces with beautifully faceted balls, pendants and teardrops are becoming a more popular selection. Since Swarovski offers a wide variety of color options for almost all of their selections, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry designers have a wonderful palate to work with.

For this reason, bridesmaids receiving necklaces and jewelry pieces for their thank you gifts and to wear for the actual wedding are even luckier with the new designs. Imagine after asking your closest friends to help with your wedding plans, wear the dresses you pick out for them, to then receive great jewelry that they can actually wear again after the wedding.

Chandelier earrings have been more popular in the last few years; however the handmade designs and creations that bridal and bridesmaid jewelry designers are creating are beautiful and better because they can be color customized to match your wedding colors, dresses and themes. With the variety of bridal and bridesmaid jewelry designers online, there are endless color and style possibilities that suit almost every style.

Take advantage this year of the newer designs of chunky bridal and bridesmaid necklaces with beautiful designs, patterns and faceted beading. There are a wealth of bridal and bridesmaid jewelry designers online that carry a full line of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and hair accessories that can be color customized to match your wedding colors.

Above article courtesy of BonitaJ.com - thank you Bonnie.

PS - Now thru September 30 you can save 10% on all orders plus free shipping - see home page for coupon code.

Crumbs Bakeshop Customized Cupcake Tower

Last week I received an email from Melissa introducing me to the latest budget-friendly alternative to the traditional wedding cake that is now being offered by Crumbs Bakeshop {the originator of the gourmet cupcake}. It is the customized cupcake tower. This is a stylish option to serve to your guests - and as I'm sure some of my readers have noticed - I love cupcakes for weddings! You can almost always find a cupcake option/idea in my inspiration boards.

From Melissa:
"The gourmet cupcakes can be used to accessorize a traditional Crumbs cake, or the flavors can be combined to create a personalized cupcake tower of every couple's dreams – perhaps a cupcake tower comprised of the bride and groom's favorite childhood dessert flavors, such as "Twinkie" and "Hostess" cupcakes? The possibilities are endless, especially with 50 gourmet flavors to choose from."

You can choose from the following two tier sizes:
The 5 tier holds 30-35 large cupcakes
The 6 tier holds 40-45 large cupcakes

Crumbs Bakeshop has locations in New York and Los Angeles.
Anybody been to a Crumbs Bakeshop?

Wedding Trends for this Summer's 8/8/08

The other day I received a press release from comedienne and CEO of Bride's Night Out®, Pamela Yager. Pamela is considered the "Lucille Ball of bachelorette party planning". According to Pamela, "one of the foremost trends for this season is 8/8/08 weddings". I thought you would enjoy reading this, so below is an excerpt from the press release:

Bachelorette Party Planning Maven Reveals Why 8/8/08 is so Hot
"The number eight is highly favored in many spiritual and cultural traditions," says Yager. "For example, the Chinese pronunciation of 'eight' sounds similar to the word for 'prosperity' In the Chinese culture, the more eights involved in a couple's life, the better chance for luck and wealth. In Russia, 8/8/08 date is so highly prized that it is called the 'Millionaire Mark' day and one bride told me that people would pay a bribe to secure it for their wedding."

Some other reasons why eight (8) is such an auspicious number include:
• Eight (8) is a multiple of four (4). Four (4) equal sides create a square. A square represents the ultimate shape of balance and stability.
• Eight (8) is the symbol for "infinity". This is connected to the spiritual concept of "forever," which of course is the great hope for every new marriage.
• Just like the circular shape of a wedding ring (which has no beginning and no end), the two loops of the figure eight (8) when joined together represent the connection between a higher power and a human being.

"My bachelorette party clients carefully choose the date of their nuptials," says the saucy auburn coiffed Yager. "I personally chose 7/7/07 for my own wedding and threw seven (7) pre-wedding events. For 8/8/08 couples, Yager suggests the following party planning ideas to accentuate the fortuitousness of the date:

• Produce a bachelorette party with eight (8) distinct elements (i.e. games, toasts)
• Throw eight (8) co-ed pre-wedding parties for the bride and/or groom
• Schedule the bachelorette party for 8:08 p.m.
• The hottest (and best socializing) table shape happens to be an octagon for eight (8)
• Appoint eight (8) wedding attendants
• Set eight (8) diamonds in the wedding rings
• Set eight (8) crystals in your bachelorette party and bridal veils
• Arrange eight (8) featured flowers in each bouquet
• Ask eight (8) special wedding guest to make toasts
• Dance to an eight (8) piece band
• Give favors including eight pieces of chocolate and an 8/8/08 lottery ticket

Beverly Hills bride-to-be and classical pianist, Elena Ganjoula, chose the 8/8/08 wedding date based on the strong cultural significance of the date in her native Russia, "The number eight represents stability, prosperity, wealth and success in love and finances. As a musician, the symbology extends to the fact that the 4:4 tempo is the march, which is a happy, uplifting melody." Ironically enough, Ganjoula and her husband-to-be live at an '808' address. Coincidentally, Pamela Yager lives at a '717' address.

Priscilla Flores, another Los Angeles bride-to-be, serendipitously chose the date when the venue she wished for had the 8/8/08 date suddenly become available. "It was only later we discovered that the 8/8/08 date is fabled to bring my marriage eternal happiness because of the luck surrounding the number eight!"

The "Sex in the City of Hen Parties," Bride's Night Out® (www.bridesnightout.com) is the nation's first and only bachelorette party planning service of its kind and was founded by stand-up comedienne, Pamela Yager. The national network of pre-nuptial festivities is uniquely led by improvisational comedy-trained "Party Guides" at venues, homes, and destinations throughout the U.S. Bride's Night Out® features a lucrative consultant career program for anyone wishing to become a bachelorette party planner, and wedding industry professionals can add BNO to their list of products and services for added income. Most of all, a rockin' good time is offered for the 2.4 million brides that are headed to the altar every year.

Image Credits (left to right): always13 flickr gallery, Documents and Designs, AmmarQ8.com's flickr gallery, songchilde's flickr gallery

Fake Wedding Cakes

My husband recently sent me a link to an article on CNN.com that talked about a bride having a fabulous wedding on a budget. One of the tips mentioned was to rent a wedding cake. I'll admit that the cakes above do look real, but they are actually tiered Styrofoam cakes with icing on the outside. I guess you can have a secret compartment in the back of the cake where you can hide a slice of edible cake. Your guests will think you're cutting into the real thing - but they will actually be served slices from an inexpensive sheet cake that's been in the kitchen. What I'd be curious to see though, is what this compartment looks like. On all the cake rental sites I've visited, I can't seem to find a photo of this. I'm thinking it's something like a wedge with maybe a lid to hide your real cake slice in? Or is there an opening in the fake cake for a real slice to be put in? Anybody know?

Personally, I don't think I could ever rent a cake. If the budget didn't allow for a cake, then I would opt for the popular cupcake tree. You might even consider making the cupcakes yourself and maybe you could gather your bridal party together to help you frost them. Or, why not forgo the traditional cake cutting and have a dessert buffet instead? You might even ask family members to bake their favorite(s) and display them at the wedding with a label that might read something like "Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies baked with love by Aunt Judy". Definitely a budget-friendly dessert option. You might even decide to go one step further by gathering all of the recipes and creating a dessert cookbook as a favor for your guests.

Pricing for a cake rental typically starts around $130 plus shipping for a 3 tiered cake shown in a pre-designed cake gallery. Custom ordered 3 tier cakes can start around $200+ plus shipping. Additional tiers are added cost. Please note: Cakes require a safety deposit, which is refunded once the cake has been returned and is not damaged. Maybe it's just me, but do you want to be cutting into a "fake" cake that another couple has cut into? And would a bride really want to have to remember to set aside time to ship a cake back after the wedding when there are all those thank you's to tackle?

Anybody out there renting a cake for your wedding? Have you been to a wedding where a cake had been rented? Please share your thoughts on fake wedding cakes, I'd love to know what you think.

Some of the Cake Rental Companies I've come across:
Fake the Cake in CA, Atlanta Cake Rental in GA, Mrs. Oliver's Cakes in MD, Cake Rental in MI, Rent a Fake Cake in MN, Sin City Fake Cakes in NV, Rent the Cake of Your Dreams in NY, Cutting the Cake and Sugar Fake Cakes in Canada

Above Image Credits:
Top Row: from Rent the Cake of Your Dreams, Middle Row: from Atlanta Cake Rental, Bottom Row: from Fake the Cake

Eye Candy Bridal Shoes

I've noticed that Amy Squires (one of The Wedding Chicks, and cover photographer for Susie Coelho's Style Your Dream Wedding), has been photographing brides wearing white dresses with what I would call "eye candy bridal shoes". I love seeing the pop of color show from under the dress. I thought to myself . . . "what a unique touch". And, on Tuesday's blog post at The Wedding Chicks - they wrote about Amy's amazing shots that include bride's shoes and how "one of her most popular tips is for the bride to wear some fancy colored shoes that match their theme." My wedding colors were navy blue and yellow (sunflowers were the main flower). We had a garden wedding reception, and I think I could have seen myself wearing a sunny yellow pair of shoes. What about you? Would you consider straying from the traditional white shoe and wearing one with color?

Images Credits:
Bride photos shots courtesy of Amy Squires
Three jeweled shoes from Dikuza (Orange: Thea, Turquoise: Tami, Pink: Layna)

PS - next month our popular bridal shoe giveaway returns! (courtesy of Dikuza)

Vegan Wedding Cakes

I received an email yesterday from Lali, owner of Nana Pearl's Wooden Spoon in NYC (she was listed as a resource for Organic Wedding Cakes in my blog post from last week) - I found her comment very interesting and wanted to share it with you: "As a side note, vegan cakes were added to the website at the same time as organic cakes. To my surprise, I have had much more interest in vegan wedding cakes than organic wedding cakes. Individuals who request additional information on the website specifically express interest in vegan cakes about five times more often than individuals who specifically request information about organic cakes. It could be because so few wedding cake vendors offer vegan cakes or it could be the beginning of a new trend." Vegan means there are no animal-derived ingredients (dairy free and egg free).

Other Vegan Wedding Cake Bakers include:
California: Bewitching Elegance
Colorado: WaterCourse Bakery
New Jersey: Sweet Avenue Bake Shop for Vegan Cupcakes
Pennsylvania: Vegan Treats
Washington, DC: Sticky Fingers Bakery
Vegan Wedding Cake Directory from About.com

If you know of any others, please leave me a comment.

Dessert Buffets continued . . .

After posting yesterday's blog entry, I came across Rebecca Thuss' web site and just had to share it with you - her site is filled with many more truly inspiring ideas for dessert buffet tables including both cookies and candy. Rebecca's bio says "she delights in throwing parties, has a passion for packaging, a weakness for fanciful candy and confections, and an infatuation with vintage paper items". Rebecca is a dedicated 10 year veteran of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - so you may recognize some of the photos from the pages of the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.

Enjoy the above pics and be sure to check out Rebecca's site for even more mouthwatering photos. Have a sweet weekend!

A Wedding Buffet with Glass Jars

I love this wedding idea - using apothecary jars or any kind of glass jar for either candy buffets, cookie buffets, popcorn bars or anything else you can think of. With the items being displayed in glass, you can make any table arrangement look stunning. And you can turn the 'buffet' of candy, cookies or popcorn into a self-serve favor station. You can provide your guests with favor boxes or bags and decorative scoops so your guests can put together their own sweet treat to take home and enjoy. You can pre-attach a label to the favor boxes (maybe with your names, wedding date and 'Enjoy!' on it) and with the favor bags, you could decorate them using rubber-stamps. Adding ribbons around the glass jars and with labels identifying the candy, cookies and/or flavor of popcorn makes the display even more special.

Probably, the hardest decision to make will be what colors and candy to use. All white? An array of colors? Only the wedding colors?

Glass jars also make wonderful additions to tables filled with fruit (limes, lemons, apples, etc), sea shells - the possibilities are endless.

Image Credits:
Top Right: courtesy of dnn_rchmnd's flickr photo gallery
Left: courtesy of presentpast's flickr photo gallery
Middle Right: courtesy of Brides.com
Bottom Left: Michaels Arts and Crafts
Bottom Right: Jo Gartin of Love Luck and Angels

The Ever Popular Topic - The Bridesmaid Dress

courtesy of Karen Warren Ltd Bridal Collection
I recently received an email from Karen Warren Ltd. discussing one of the best ways to let a bride's personality shine through. This can be accomplished with something as simple as the bridesmaids' dresses. According to Karen Warren Ltd., "Reflecting youth and sophistication, the bridesmaid dress tells the story of the bridal party, depicting their fashion style, friendships and flair."

Here's the rest of the story:
Solid colors, dress separates, and sundresses are the bridal fashion trend in 2008, introducing carefree and vibrant colors for spring and summer, and jeweled "glow" tones for fall and winter. Always a classic, the A-line dress and skirt is joined by the fit and flare, with hemlines either mid-calf or more popular for 2008, right below or above the knee. Dressy separates remain an important option for the bridal party, with more-forgiving styles and comfort allowing bridesmaids to mix back into their every day wardrobe. The new seven-button cocktail coat and flat front wide leg pant promises to be an elegant wardrobe addition long after the wedding festivities are over.

Spring and Summer Color Choices: spring greens, cornflower blue, pale pinks and summer oranges

Fall and Winter Color Choices: berries, champagne, warm chocolates, dark greens and deep purples

Sundresses: spaghetti straps, one shoulder or pocket options, always flirtatious at the knee or floor length

Elegant Separates: mix and match skirts and wide-leg pants, with tops, jackets and cocktail coats

Fabrics: silk dupioni, summer linen, and classic chiffon

"We are thrilled to introduce these beautiful colors, dressy yet relaxed fabrics, and elegant style options to our wedding party division." said Karen Hipwell, President of Karen Warren Ltd. "With simple elegance ever so popular, the bridal party should be noticeable and stand apart from the guests, humbly representing the theme of the wedding."

The wedding party division of Karen Warren LTD offers a variety of colors, fabrics, styles and lengths that flatter every figure. Many of the styles are offered in ankle and short lengths and customers can pick their own mood setting colors. A sleeveless silk dupioni shell with a built in sash offers a number of looks depending on how you tie the sash. It‚s feminine and formal when tied in the front into a bow. A more tailored look comes to life as the sash ties in the back and drapes along the skirt. Finally the same top becomes a lesson in classic simplicity when wrapped around as a sash and paired with silk pants or capris. When pairing the top with a skirt in the same fabric and color bridesmaids can create the illusion of a formal dress. A classic look in silk dupioni is always in style with a simple taupe top and black skirt and sash. It is offered in a number of stunning color combinations for the more sophisticated wedding party. The separates also offer bridesmaids a better fit with the option of different sizes for top and bottoms.

The Latest Trends in Bridal Gown Styles

The current trends for wedding dresses include:

Trend 1. Shorter Lengths - satin short party dress with floral embroidered bodice in ivory from the Vineyard Collection at Priscilla of Boston.
style Ricki.

Trend 2. Side Seam Pockets - full skirt with pleats and a bustle - featuring silver embroidery and beading from Eden Bridal (image courtesy of Brides.com). I love the idea of pockets in a wedding dress - they are perfect for stashing away a few tissues, warming up chilly hands, or just a comfortable place to rest your hands for pictures.

Trend 3 and 4: Open Back and Lace - v-neck double satin and tatted lace floor length gown from Lela Rose
(image courtesy of Brides.com)

Trend 5: Cotton - empire waist, slight A-line skirt, spaghetti strap with concealed back zipper in white cotton eyelet from Simple Silhouettes.

Trend 6: Belts - strapless v-neck dress with 2" wide ribbon belt - sequined lace on an A-line skirt from Forever Yours Bridal.
(image courtesy of Something Special Bridal)
style 48109

Trend 7: Covering Up - vertically shirred tulle overlays the strapless, empire bodice onto the slimfitting gown with appliquéd and cascading lace with matching bolero jacket. Available in 3 lengths and in White, Ivory, Cream from Mori Lee.
style 2181

Trend 8: Corsages - satin and lace dress with satin flower and sweeping train by Alfred Angelo. Dress available in White or Ivory with Trim in 55 colors.
style 1149

Haute Wine Country Weddings

According to Kelly McLeskey of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma Valley, CA - The white wedding is back, as is vintage (think re-use) and weekend themed events. Kelly reveals What's Haute for our readers . . .

White Hot
"Last year a lot of weddings focused on bright robust colors, this year we are seeing more neutral tones with shots of color in flowers, etc. Soft, sheer fabrics and floral prints are (also) back in all shapes and sizes. I think you will see bright and bold in the bridesmaid dresses then hints of those colors through out the wedding but the color won't be the main focus it will accent or compliment the wedding."

Vintage Chic
"The eco-chic bride is incorporating vintage elements and touches into their galas. Vintage Wedding Gowns, Vintage Rings, Vintage Cars, Vintage China & Crystal are the new California rage."

Put it on Paper
"Invitation and wedding stationary is hotter than ever! Lots of brides are putting a lot of time and money into their invitations...creating a monogram, a logo, a motif for their wedding that is carried through out the entire wedding. This original design work in being incorporated into the wedding cake, menus, escort cards, and welcome letters."

Make it Last
"The WEEKEND WEDDING is definitely growing in popularity. Today's fashionable bride is planning an entire weekend of (themed) planned activities- not just the wedding ceremony, but 2-3 days of events where every guest is included. For example I recently planned a weekend wedding that included a Thursday (evening) welcome reception, Friday golf for the guys and Spa Day for the girls with lunch, Friday night the entire party was invited to the rehearsal dinner, Saturday wedding, and (morning after) Sunday brunch send off. Weddings are smaller and more intimate too, 125 guests or less."

Renowned for natural mineral waters, unparalleled charm and gracious service, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, is located 40 miles north of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge at 100 Boyes Blvd. in Sonoma Valley, the heart of Northern California's wine country. A recipient of both the AAA-Four Diamond and Mobil-Four Star Award, the resort consistently provides the country's finest European spa experience. For reservations please call 1-800- 441-1414 or (707) 938-9000, or visit the Inn's website.

above images courtesy of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

2008 Wedding Flowers Trends

We are happy to share with you the following trends for 2008 in wedding flowers provided to us by Clara Varga-Gonzales, owner of Tiger Lily Florist in Charleston, SC (named Elegant Bride Magazine's Top Wedding Designers for 2005 and The Knot Best of Flowers 2007).

above photos courtesy of Tiger Lily Florist

2008 Wedding Flowers Trends
• There is definitely still a curiosity about natural elements. Flowers and botanicals, such as grasses, pods, herbs and lichens, are incorporated into all aspects of the wedding from boutonnieres to pew markers and cake flowers.
• Designs that focus on grouping materials such as chocolate artichokes, fern curls and green Goddess Callas Lilies are presented in artisan containers and gracing the tables at outdoor receptions.
• In color palettes, green is still the most sought after color with accent shades of creams and white or hot pinks and mango coral. However, combinations of deep burgundy red Black Magic roses, Black Forest mini Callas and rich purple, almost black, tulips are striking against ornate damask linen. No more white linen on guest tables for sure.
• Ceremonies that are being held outdoors are letting nature provide the backdrop, which can be quite dramatic here in the Lowcountry. Emphasis on ornate aisle starters and chair markers allow the bride and groom to be the main focus for guests during ceremonies.

About Tiger Lily
Located in downtown Charleston, SC, Tiger Lily is an upscale florist, taking inspiration from the area's long legacy of flowers and gardens to bring Charleston residents the highest-quality, most impactful arrangements. Only working with the world's best suppliers and growers to ensure the freshest and most beautiful blooms, Tiger Lily’s arrangements are long-lasting and carefully designed to meet the unique vision, whether traditional or modern, of each customer. The company's many accolades include runner up to Florists' Review's America's Best Retail Florist of 2006, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year 2004 and one of Elegant Bride Magazine's Top Wedding Designers for 2005. For more information, visit www.tigerlilyflorist.com.

2008 Fashion Trends for Mothers of the Bride and Groom

A couple of days ago I received an email that discussed the new trends for mothers of the bride and groom and wanted to share them with you.

According to Karen Hipwell, president of Karen Warren Ltd. Bridal Collection - "style conscious and hip, Mothers of the Bride and Groom have set the trend for 2008 bridal fashion, with beauty and comfort at the top of their list. Whether it is the match look or staying with one tone of the bridal party, or perhaps the mix and match alternative, the mother today promises to be ultra fashionable. Gowns are softer offering a lighter fabric, continuing to cover appropriately, yet daring a style or two of a younger appeal. Separates extend the wardrobe after the party is over while the sophistication of a shorter suit or flare front wide leg pants for a destination or casual wedding."

Here's Karen's list of the latest fashion trends for mothers of the bride and/or groom:

Bolder Colors: corals, slate blue, lilac, champagne

Elegant Separates: designed with classic elegance in mind, chiffon overlay skirts soften bodylines and offer and air of elegance wearing a wrap to complete the look. Mix and match skirts and wide-leg pants, with tops, jackets and cocktail coats.

Fabrics: silk dupioni, summer linen, lace and classic chiffon

"Mothers today are glamorous and as a member of the bridal party, moms too are romantic, showing us sophistication and elegance, supporting the role and walking with pride." said Karen Hipwell, President of Karen Warren Ltd. "Our mother of the bride and groom collection offers beautiful fabrics, flattering lines and quality workmanship accentuating the positive and giving woman a creation they will want to wear again and again."

The wedding party division of Karen Warren LTD offers a variety of colors, fabrics, styles and lengths that flatter every figure. Many of the styles are offered in ankle and short lengths and customers can pick their own mood setting colors. A sleeveless silk dupioni shell with a built in sash offers a number of looks depending on how you tie the sash. It's feminine and formal when tied in the front into a bow. A more tailored look comes to life as the sash ties in the back and drapes along the skirt. Finally the same top becomes a lesson in classic simplicity when wrapped around as a sash and paired with silk pants or capris. When pairing the top with a skirt in the same fabric and color mothers can create the illusion of a formal dress. A classic look in silk dupioni is always in style with a simple taupe top and black skirt and sash. It is offered in a number of stunning color combinations for the more sophisticated wedding party. The separates also offer mothers a better fit with the option of different sizes for top and bottoms.

Web Site Find: True Love Logos

With personalization being so popular for weddings we wanted to let you know about a great site that will create your wedding monogram or logo for you. The company is called true•love•logos and was created by the mother-daughter team at Firefly Creatives, LLC. They currently have 5 distinct collections (with almost 200 designs total) to select from. The styles and themes include:
• Casual (fun, laid-back, relaxed
• Classic (elegant, traditional)
• Contemporary (clean, modern, unique)
• Imagery (symbolic, cultural, location)
• Monograms (timeless, historic)

A wedding monogram is an affordable way to add elegance and individuality to your wedding - and at true•love•logos the cost is $50 for a b&w/grayscale digital file that can then be used for DIY projects and/or professional printing. If you would like a color version of your wedding logo, it's only $25 extra. The typical completion time for a wedding monogram is 1-5 days and online ordering is easy with their short order form.

Some ideas for wedding monogram uses include: thank you cards, personal wedding websites, place cards, favor gift tags, and coasters. If you plan on using a wedding monogram, please leave a comment and let us know where you will be implementing it to create a memorable wedding experience.

Also, be sure to come back next month to enter our wedding contests when true•love•logos will be giving away one wedding monogram to a lucky bride

Wedding Gown Hemlines Become Shorter

On Get Married this morning I saw a segment on a new trend with shorter hemlines for wedding gowns. I can see these shorter length wedding gowns being worn for casual weddings, destination / beach weddings, or maybe even to change into for your reception. Dancing would certainly be easier and you wouldn't need to bustle the dress. What wedding gown length will you be wearing on your special day?

Wedding Gown and Bridal Dress Lengths include:

Ankle Length - cut to the ankle with feet exposed (perfect for brides that are fearful of tripping and falling down the aisle)

Ballerina - sits about 2" above the ankle (perfect for outdoor weddings)

Full/Floor Length - barely touches the floor with just the toes of the shoes showing

Intermission - falls between the ankle and knee

Knee Length - ends just below the knee (perfect for more casual weddings and/or bridesmaid dresses)

Tea Length - sits halfway between the knee and midcalf

Mini Skirt - falls above the knees

Credit for Above Pictures:
pic 1: by Alfred Angelo
pic 2: by Jasmine
pic 3: by Casablanca
All dresses can be purchased thru PerfectBridal.com

Allumonde™ - The Charity Ring

The Allumonde™ Ring is the perfect wedding band for today's socially conscious couples. Designed exclusively for the DESIGN 21: Social Design Network by renowned furniture and industrial designer Richard Hutten - 21% of the proceeds from each ring go towards charitable foundations across the world: 19% is given to the charity of the wearer's choice and 2% helps to fund UNESCO DREAM Centers.

According to DESIGN 21 - "For these philanthropic couples, a wedding day not only celebrates a union, but the values they share and the new lifestyles in which they will be living together. Couples have replaced wedding favors with charitable donations and have donated wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses to second-hand stores. Choosing the Allumonde Ring as a wedding band is an ideal way to demonstrate their passion for social change and hopefully incite the same feelings in their guests."

Available online thru through the DESIGN 21: Social Design Network - the Allumonde™ ring comes in both women's and men's sizes in stainless steel, titanium black, titanium gold, silver and gold metals ranging in price from $35 USD to $2,500 USD.

Top 2008 Wedding Season Trends

Yesterday I received a press release from Wedding Paper Divas and wanted to share it with you. Please note, with all orders placed thru March 31st, you can save 5% on your order. Simply use coupon code: NEW8 at checkout.

Wedding Paper Divas Unveils Latest Trends for 2008 Wedding Season

With approximately 30 percent of all engagements happening between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the 2008 wedding season is quickly approaching. As couples begin their wedding preparations, Wedding Paper Divas, the preferred online destination by brides-to-be for premium wedding stationery, announced the top wedding trends for 2008.

While wedding traditions do not typically change, each season unveils the latest trends that many couples will incorporate into their event. Many brides-to-be discover that the exclusive designs from Wedding Paper Divas are a perfect stationery match. Wedding Paper Divas unique creations embrace romantic inspirations while providing a dash of modern flair reflected in today’s most popular trends.

According to Wedding Paper Divas, the top trends in 2008 will include:

Non-traditional shapes: Many couples are opting for wedding invitations in non-traditional shapes. Gone are the days choosing between 5” x 7” rectangles - now couples can select square and tea length cards.

Bright Colors & Unique Color Combinations: Couples are incorporating vibrant colors and unique color combinations into their weddings like yellow. Brides are also creating unique color combinations such as turquoise and lime. These colors are not only seen on invitations, but also on wedding place cards and programs, and incorporated throughout the reception.

Time-Honored Monograms: Every year the bridal industry wonders if monograms will go out of style, but they remain as popular as ever. Whether on save the date cards, wedding invitations or wedding thank you cards, classic monograms are still au courant.

Mother Nature’s Finest: Wedding ensembles inspired by natural elements, such as simple leaf and flower motifs, are in vogue and suit weddings of any season.

Modern toile: Toile inspiration has leapt off of our upholstery and curtains and is making a contemporary comeback on many top-selling stationery designs. These classic and highly intricate scenes designed with unusual colors are more chic than ever before.

Something old, something new: Brides love options and many combine modern designs with traditional stationery elements like ecru paper and letterpress printing.

Get Cultured: More couples are adding a little ethnic flavor to their stationery, whether through cultural motifs, meaningful quotes or relevant color combinations.

Wedding Websites: Wedding websites are continuing to grow in popularity and are becoming more elaborate than ever. These pages include details about the couple, their courtship, and their wedding. Couples are encouraging their guests to read more about their event or even RSVP online by adding the URL to their wedding website directly onto bridal shower invitations and wedding invites.

To see these trends reflected in hundreds of designs, visit www.weddingpaperdivas.com.

About Wedding Paper Divas
Based in Mountain View, California, Wedding Paper Divas offers premium, personalized wedding stationery. Wedding Paper Divas works with well-known, as well as up-and-coming, artists who design wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations and thank you cards that fit today's trends and romantic inspirations. Every design on Wedding Paper Divas is exclusive, which means it cannot be found anywhere else online or offline. Additionally, all Wedding Paper Divas products are printed on the highest quality paper and are completed in a fraction of the time for a fraction of the cost of most local wedding retailers.