Love Notes

The Fantasy Gowns of Marchesa

Last summer we wrote about the launch of Marchesa's first bridal collection, and what bride wouldn't feel like a goddess an exquisite Marchesa gown?  Your wedding presents the perfect opportunity to float on a cloud in one of Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig's frothy creations. We decided to share looks from the Resort '10 Collection as well as our favorites from Spring '09. The sensuous fabrics and exquisite details are a delight to behold, perhaps in part due to Chapman's study of costume design before launching Marchesa. Her foremost style inspiration is Marchesa Luisa Casati, the Italian aristocrat known for walking the streets of Venice with her pair of pet cheetahs on diamond leashes. The Marchesa gowns named after Casati bear the same sense of high drama and dazzling details of fine gold embroidery to fanciful feathers. I love the short strapless pictured above with the divine gold beading at the bodice and creamy chiffon ruffles. Which of these elegant frocks would you choose for your wedding day?

(photos courtesy of Marchesa)

Entertaining Children at a Wedding Reception

 

Many weddings are taking a turn toward the casual styling of a garden party, and we are often asked for ideas of how to include and entertain the children at a wedding reception. Here are a few ideas that will make the keiki feel special. Dedicate a space for a children's buffet at the reception with colorful cookies, candies and small items they can either enjoy during the event or take home as a parting gift. If you are hoping to keep them occupied, it is nice to have one or two nannies attending to the children. Besides freeing up the parents, the kids will have much more fun playing old-fashioned lawn games like Badmitten or croquet. If you have a large enough lawn, you could even create a small putt-putt golf game with child size clubs and a few plastic cups (there are inexpensive sets at any toy store). The children will appreciate your thoughtful planning as much as the adults!

Teddy bear bride and groom were hand sculpted by Yukiko of Deco Clay Craft. Little sandcastle cakes make a whimsical centerpiece alongside sugar cookies in the shape of surfboards, crabs, geckos and tropical fish. Meringues in shell shapes are tucked inside small metal pails the kids can take home with them. Fresh island fruit is another good treat to consider! (Photos by Chrissy Lambert)

Beauty Products We Love: Moroccanoil

I first learned about Moroccanoil from my hair stylist, Dan Sanchez, who shared his effusive review of this new line as "one of the best hair products ever!" I admit I was a bit skeptical—the thought of oil on my fine hair mixed with the tropical humidity of Hawaii didn't seem like a good combo. Since I trust Dan implicitly, I didn't object when he applied this magical remedy to my freshly highlighted locks. As usual, he was right! My hair was soft and shiny with no trace of stickiness, it actually felt sleek and beautiful. Dan says, "Moroccanoil improves the structure and integrity of the hair, so you see the results immediately after just one application."

The product's key ingredient is called Argan Oil, a powerful antioxidant and UV protector, which is so crucial in the Pacific regions, where the sun and surf can instantly steal your sparkle! According to the brochure, Moroccanoil’s proprietary Argan oil blend is rich in vitamins and natural elements that fortify the hair, including Vitamin F (Omega 6), Vitamin A to improve elasticity, Vitamin E to protect against free-radicals, and Phenols to shield against environmental stressors.

It is only sold in fine salons, but I love the fact that this best-selling product is helping less fortunate people. Moroccanoil’s Argan oil is harvested under a free trade program which provides substantial socio-economic support to thousands of families in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco. Revenue from this project provides income to families and helps improve the working conditions of rural women.

Like any great new product, there are likely some imitators out there, so look for the bright turquoise label with the big copper M in the Moroccanoil logo. Your hair will love you:)

Strike a Pose: Summer Wedding Gowns Unveiled

The summer/fall issue of Pacific Weddings will be on newsstands in a few days, and although I have said this many times before, I think this edition may be one of our best! This issue is filled with creative ideas and inspiration to plan a fabulous wedding. One of my favorite features is our amazing fashion shoot. We flew in gowns straight off the NYC runways just days after bridal market, and the designs this season are seriously breathtaking! I was entranced by Vera Wang's smoky pink layers and Oscar's stunning raw silk masterpiece. Makeup artist Jessica Waite worked her magic to create an avant garde look and Dan Sanchez styled our models' hair with a nod to Marie Antoinette. The Visionari team of photographers was there in full force to capture it all. I can't wait to share more images, but for now here is a brief behind-the-scenes look.

(Above) On location in Upcountry, Maui, Shaunna decides which gowns are perfect for each model.

 

A little playful gossip among the models

A Vera Wang gown with fabulous detailing at the bodice... stay tuned for the rest of the story.

Cookie Wedding Favors, How Sweet!

We were recently introduced to Margie and Abbey Greenberg, the mother-daughter team who started The Flour Pot, a cookie company based in Ambler, PA. Their love of design and sweets shines through in an adorable selection of cookies decorated to win the affection of any fashionista with a sweet tooth. Chanel handbags and pretty high heels, wedding cakes and golf balls (don't forget your groom!), these perfectly iced treats are memorable favors and guest gifts. The "Will you be my bridesmaid?" cookie is particularly clever, and for all you packaging junkies, it comes in an adorable polka dotted box tied with a ribbon. We were pleasantly surprised at how reasonable these cookies are, especially considering the quality and great presentation—we were all smiles when our samples arrived in a striped hat box! Which is your favorite? If you can't decide, they will create a custom design just for you.

Photos courtesy of The Flour Pot

Handmade Wedding Signs

  

My appreciation of typeography has grown over the years, so I am always drawn to photos of handmade wedding signs. Since Shaunna and I are not exactly "craftsy" girls, we were happy to find a sweet selection of ready made vintage signs that will direct guests to everything from "cocktails" to the "ladies room". Etsy was my first stop, and there are several pages (56!) to peruse. There are also some good finds (bottom photo) on message boards like Weddingbee Classifieds. Here are a few signs that we like--some shabby chic, others funky and fresh, all cute in their individual ways. We both fell in love with the simple antique signs (above) from Rockett St. George via Apartment Therapy... all you need is love!

Designer Masking Tape for Weddings

Here at PW we are always looking for ways to personalize your wedding, so when Stacey Nomura tipped us off to designer masking tape, our minds began racing with possibilities. (What is it about pretty paper that instantly sets a girl's heart aflutter?!) Here are some wonderful ideas to use the stripes, polka dots and scrumptious colors of this fun new tape made of Japanese washi paper, via Happy Tape blog.

The package below is by annebvinyl on Etsy and it's precious. She uses a single strip of tape around the clear box, then covers the seam with her label sticker. Check out her shop for other vinyl projects, too.  I also liked the idea of adding panache to favor tags using the colorful tape, or you can use it to enclose  edible favor items--this will instantly dress up clear cellophane goodie bags and it's so simple. Order your favorite tape colors and see more ideas at http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/.

Duly Noted: New Aloha Stationery from Hawaii

If you are in search of Hawaiian inspired invitations and stationery, you should meet Stacey Nomura of Bradley & Lily. She recently released her first collection of elegant letterpress note cards and they are making a Honolulu debut at the SoHa Living store at Kahala Mall. You can also order them online at at SoHaLiving.

The freshly pressed Aloha and Mahalo note cards are printed on 100% cotton rag and include hand-lined envelopes. The red aloha cards with solid red liner and green mahalo cards with letterpressed lattice pattern liner are available in boxed sets, while the blue aloha design with a letterpress custom-illustrated aloha print liner is a limited edition, available in singles only.

One of my favorite designers, Stacey is a regular contributor to PW and we can't wait to unveil her latest couture sets in the new issue--on newsstands at the beginning of July! In the meantime, check out her blog and website for beautiful Hawaiian letterpress invitations. Stacey has an eye for fabulous papers  and creative details like this new Japanese washi paper masking tape, so her blog is definitely worth a visit! I am still entertaining ideas of how to put the pretty tape designs to use (it comes in an amazing array of colors and patterns). If you have ideas, please share with us.

An Engaging Event

We just heard from Morgan Childs at Modern Living Hawaii about a wedding event coming up on Oahu this weekend. She says, "Join us this June 20th and 21st for an exclusive bridal showcase at The Wedding Ring Shop. This event is free for brides to attend and we want to invite you to be a part of An Engaging Event. Please RSVP to 808.945.7766 or nicole@weddingringshop.com to receive your gift bag and are entered to win our Tacori bridal jewelry sweepstakes valued at $1,000. We look forward to seeing you there!"

Guest Blogger: Harmony Walton+Bridal Bar Atlanta

I don’t typically blog about myself, my business, or my personal life, but today allow me the exception as I’m so excited to share the news that The Bridal Bar has just opened the doors to the third store in the group!  Bridal Bar Atlanta is a long awaited project finally complete, packaged and officially up and running. This store and talented group of event professionals is led by the caring hands of a wonderful woman, Rebecca Hansmann, and her creative team.  Brides in the South now have the resources of the best of the best, all under one roof.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, The Bridal Bar gives couples the opportunity to preview, explore, and learn about companies, vendors, locations, and products and services for the big day.  The trip to the store is completely complimentary and we serve up champagne, complimentary bridal magazines, swag, and one-on-one meetings with our experts. The goal is not only to pair brides with the right people for their wedding but to make each one of our guests a bit of an expert themselves by the time they leave.  If you’re in Atlanta, San Diego, or Los Angeles, stop by and say hello!

And for those Southern belles getting ready to walk down the aisle, take a peek at what the Bridal Bar Atlanta looks like from the inside out. [Photography by David Murray Weddings]