Jenna Bush and Henry Hager were married last Saturday, May 10, in Crawford, Texas. The bride wore a beaded organza v-neck gown by Oscar de la Renta that fit the outdoor ranch ceremony perfectly. Who knew that a presidential wedding could be so understated and intimate? I love their choice of an outdoor springtime wedding, Jenna's simple and elegant bridal style, and the sweet touches like the Texas limestone cross that served as an altar. Congrats, newlyweds! Cheers!
One of my very best friends, Dawn, is expecting her first baby any day now, and one of my favorite photographers, Garrett Nudd, has recently launched a "couture portrait studio" called Cobblestone Rue. Together, they teamed up to shoot Dawn's pre-baby portraits and the results are amazing. Garrett and his wife Joy shoot tons of creative and couture wedding photography, and have now found a way to continue documenting the lives of their brides by shooting pregnancy photos and baby photos down the road. For some, including myself, traditional pregnancy photos can be almost uncomfortable to look at for anyone but the parents-to-be. Garrett's take on photography, however, captures scenes and emotions that are true art. For those of you still looking for engagement/wedding/portrait photographers, take a minute to check out Garrett's site and blog.
Other portraits by Garrett Nudd:
As any bride will tell you, your engagement and wedding will go by in the blink of an eye! Looking back at my own 7 month engagement, there were so many decisions to be made and little obstacles to overcome that a lot of my planning just blends together. Over time, I will forget about some of the choices we made for our wedding and some of the funny stories about that time in our lives. I am not a diary-keeper but sometimes wish I were, as it is so easy to forget special moments and events. Today I came across the easiest and possibly most fun to look back on way to journal: keeping a Record of the day. This is a useful way to record and itemize ideas when planning any event, but could be done daily on index cards to record thoughts at the end of your day. Here are some wedding-inspired cards. Grab a set of 4x6 index cards and you're good to go!
In our wedding, we didn't have a ring bearer, because a) we didn't know any boys little enough for the job, and b) I've seen too many cheesy ring bearer pillows. Turns out I didn't look hard enough. If I could have a re-do, I might have had the flower girl carry the rings down on one of these adorable "pillows" (more like ring displays). My sister served as our flower girl and carried down a small, moss-covered basket filled with petals. To fit the theme, I suppose she could have carried this instead:
A little bird's nest holding two rings would definitely have fit the bill. Here are other ring bearer "pillows" I found on Etsy--it seems you really can find a fitting display to get those rings down the aisle in style.
Another celebrity couple has announced their engagement--this time it's Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds, who have been dating a little under a year. No wedding date has been set.
The latest bridal party dresses are sweet and chic, very feminine, and very flirty. I know that "re-wearing" a bridesmaid's dress is usually a joke, but I'd wear any of these to a party, as a guest at a wedding, or just a night out with the girls.
It seems that anything goes now for bridesmaids attire. Still, consider the theme and tone of your wedding, and how formal your wedding gown is. If you're wearing an crystal-beaded ball gown, then go for floor length bridesmaid dresses and amp up the girls' jewelry. Wearing lace or a simple sheath? Dress the bridal party down a notch by offering them different styles of brighter colored dresses in a flowing chiffon or taffeta. Your bridal party can be wearing a shade in the same color family as the rest of the wedding decor, and it's ok if they aren't in exactly the same dress as each other.
This weekend, Solutions Bridal hosted a trunk show featuring the Fall 2008 collection from wedding gown designer Justina McCaffrey. Brides loved the ethereal designs and softest fabrics ever. I've had many a bride call these "cozy gowns", due to the supple satin and 100% silk lining inside. Justina McCaffrey's fashion shows are unbelievable--they hire ballerinas to dance the gowns down the runway, making for the ultimate viewing experience and showing off the movement and whimsical nature of the gowns. The new collection has not yet been photographed, but here is a look at Justina's style from seasons past.
I must apologize for my lack of posts this week--I've been swept up in Life and have not made the time! Quickly, I'd like to report that I will now be working with E-Events in wedding planning and coordination. How exciting! For years, I have had the pleasure of working with brides up until the big day, only to see a photo now and then of brides all dolled up for the real event. Now I'll be working with brides throughout their planning process, and coordinating the weddings as well. Lucky me!
If you're in the Central Florida area (or anywhere, for that matter), please give us a ring and let us know how we can help assist you in your own wedding planning. We are also now offering luxury destination wedding and honeymoon coordination. Maui, anyone?
Keeping with recent years' gown trends of soft, feminine looks, the hottest bridal look for 2008 is...(drumroll, please)...RUFFLES. Designers showed up at New York bridal market last week with Fall 2008 gowns featuring ruffle accents made of tulle, chiffon, feathers, and other light and ethereal fabrics. The look is very feminine, very right-off-the-runway, and a little flamenco dancer. Wear 'em high, wear 'em low. Try them on a bolero that can be worn for photos and taken off when you're ready. You be the judge: Would you wear this look?
Taking it from the top: Melissa Sweet, Kenneth Pool, Lazaro
2nd row: Alvina Valenta, Platinum for Priscilla of Boston, Amsale
Bottom row: Monique Llhulier, Lela Rose, Reem Acra
Note: Designers' Fall 2008 runway photos are available at Brides.com
There are more cultural and religious ceremonies for weddings to possibly list, many that date back thousands of years. Most of the customs symbolize the union of the new couple and their families intertwining. As an added twist to a typical wedding, consider incorporating a cultural ceremony that dates back to your ancestors, or simply choose one that interests you. Here are some of my favorites and the meaning behind them:
Parents down the aisle (Judaism): Both the bride and groom's parents escort the couple down the aisle to symbolize the union of the two families. This is also a way to incorporate children, should either the bride or groom already have any.
Yichud (Judaism): This is a short period immediately following the ceremony for the bride and groom to be alone. Today, it's a quiet time to reflect on the big event that just occurred, or to grab a bite to eat before you face the masses! This is perfect for any couple, regardless of their faith.
Handfasting (Celtic): In a handfasting ceremony, the couple's hands are crossed and bound together by rope or a cord which is tied in a knot. This is a possible origin for the phrase "tying the knot", and represents an unbreakable union between man and wife. While this tradition has pagan origins, it is used today in Christian and non-denominational ceremonies, too.
Wrapping the Couple (Spanish): The parents of the couple (or just the mothers) come to the alter and wrap the bride and groom in a long veil (traditionally a mantilla) or fabric, symbolizing union of the couple and their families. The couple may stand this way for a few seconds, maybe as part of the ceremony is read. The mothers then unwrap and fold the veil.
Honey Ceremony: The bride and groom feed each other a small spoonful of honey as a symbol of the sweet life they will now share.
Sapta Padi (Hinduism): The couple walks seven steps together as a symbol of their friendship. In Hinduism, friendship is the basis of a marriage's foundation.
Recent Comments