Fresh finds, unique ideas, and hot trends in the world of weddings
Extreme Rides
When it comes to your wedding transportation, who says you need wheels? If you want to travel in style on your wedding day, consider this dramatic alternative to the traditional limousine. Take to the sky with a hot air balloon - a must have for adventurous brides wanting to make the ultimate grand entrance or exit, all while taking in the scenery, sipping champagne, and waving to guests from your lofty perch.
where to find
Balloon Rides America has 200 locations throughout the U.S, $199 per person, 800-762-7464, balloonridesamerica.com
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Style for Rent
Every fashionista loves designer handbags, but if the coinciding high price tag of a Dior, Chloe, or Fendi have you reduced to the bargain bins – rejoice - you can actually rent a sought after “it” bag for your big day or for your honeymoon. Bag, Borrow or Steal is a website that allows you to “borrow” designer bags for a week, month, or longer. And if you need some bling to go with that bag, the site loans fab jewelry as well. Rent it, use it, return it – but if you do become so attached, they’ll even let you purchase your new love. (the bag, not your hubby)
where to find
Bag, Borrow, or Steal (bagborroworsteal.com), rental fees range from under $40 to $400 and up.
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Merci Made Easy
Thank you notes, always a chore, just got a whole lot easier. Leave no good turn un-thanked with a Deluxe Bridal Thank You Box, which includes a collection of personalized cards for everyone on your list – friends, family, the wedding party, vendors, you name it - all in a keepsake box. Each chic card comes complete with a clever message for specific people, like this one for a bridesmaid: “I know I made you wear an ugly dress and matching shoes…but I am so glad you could be a part of my special day.” After you’ve sent your last thank you (whew!), you can keep the pretty box to store wedding mementos.
where to find
Deluxe Bridal Thank You Box, www.paperbride.com, $75 for 50 notes and envelopes.
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Vintage Save The Date Postcards
Here’s something fun - a retro reminder to save that date! Bag the traditional monogrammed card stock or even the magnet fad du jour. Instead, find vintage postcards that feature your wedding location or a kitschy wedding-related locale like Niagra Falls. This is a circumstance where it would actually be appropriate to pen your own message - in your very best cursive handwriting of course - on the cards, or you can have them professionally printed if you prefer.
where to find
You can get vintage cards online at cardcow.com or by scouring the flea markets, but finding the right quantity may present a problem. You can also enlist a stationer to create vintage-style postcards for you. Visit the Elegala.com wedding vendor directory to find a recommended stationer near you.
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details
Scenic Wedding Backdrops
We’d all love to pop for round trip airfare and whisk our nearest and dearest away for a fairytale wedding set amongst the rolling Irish countryside…. OK – now for the reality check – fake scenery is the next best thing! Rent a faux backdrop and transform an average ballroom into a Venetian village, Parisian cityscape or ocean-side villa.
where to find
Where to Find: Dreamworld backdrops, dreamworldbackdrops.com has over 1,500 backdrops for rent or purchase; Fantastic Backdrops, backdropsfantastic.com, has hundreds of options.
link | More: Aisle Style | Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details
Retro Wedding Registry
You love old movies and vintage clothes. Frank’s standards fill your playlist. Why not a wedding registry filled with wedding gifts that satisfy your affinity for the classics? Set your table apart with vintage china, silver and glassware or decorate your home with antique linens and prints from The Vintage Wedding List . The company’s inventory, gathered from antique dealers, estate and garage sales, features a hand-picked selection of some of the most unusual antique presents from all over the world.
Intrigued? Here’s what you’ll need to know… You can use their registry exclusively or to complement an existing list. The company will hold every item selected for the duration of your registry. Guests can go online to view and order items from your list, and beautifully–wrapped wedding gifts will arrive with hand-written messages on your doorstep.
where to find
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas
Photo Shop
Rent a photo booth for your reception, and let guests take turns posing for the camera. The crowd will get a kick out of taking pictures in a real classic photo booth, and the retro black and white photos can double as keepsake wedding favors. Set up a DIY station with mini-frames so guests can take home their favorite shots. You can expect to pay from $1000 to $2500 to rent a photo booth for the duration of your reception, but you can also expect it to stay busy all night.
where to find
Rentphotobooths.com is a national website where you can rent photo booths for events throughout the United States.
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Join the Club
Looking for décor ideas? Of-the-moment brides are consulting the club scene for inspiration. You can transform your reception space into a swank lounge with romantic nooks and crannies that will make guests want to converse and canoodle. Think sexy lighting, seductive music, plush couches and low coffee tables.
Why it’s Hot: Every bride wants guests to have an exceptional time at her wedding. Wedding decorations dictate the vibe, and—let’s face it—sterile tables and hard backed chairs don’t always cut it. A cozy lounge-inspired atmosphere puts people at ease, so all you have to do is sit back and watch the conversation flow.
where to find
Many event décor and rental companies carry lounge-inspired décor. Contact local vendors with your needs, or visit the Elegala.com directory of local wedding services for listings in your area.
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Digital Wedding Invitations
Inspired by the YouTube generation, interactive “webitations” have made a debut. Videographers can create customized DVDs to accompany paper wedding invitations or stand alone as digital invitations. Couples can then upload the video online for guests to share and replay at any time. Who knows, you could be the next YouTube viral sensation.
How it Works: You meet with your videographer to discuss style, inclusions, and the paper suite for the invitation package. He or she then tapes your story in an informal interview. A few weeks later, you receive the finished DVDs and invitation packages plus web access for online video sharing.
What it Costs: Prices vary, but expect to pay between $500-$1500 for production costs and about $5 per DVD.
where to find
Reel Invitations, reelinvitations.com, and Wedding Flix, weddingflix.com, both work with clients nationwide. Or inquire with your preferred local videographer.
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Printable Wedding Planner
Let’s face it-planning a wedding takes a lot of time and organization. It’s easy to see why tasks from setting the budget, to creating the guest list, finding a reception hall, and planning your wedding day ensemble may overwhelm even the most “together” bride-to-be.
This free printable wedding planner can get you through it all unscathed. The handy guide contains all the worksheets and checklists you need to make planning simple. Read it, Print it, put it in your binder or folder – it’s yours to keep.
After you download your complimentary copy, you’ll receive a step-by-step guide walking you through the entire planning process. There isn’t any need for you to spend the next few months fretting about your wedding plans - just follow the easy instructions, use our checklists to ensure you’ve got it all organized, then sit back, RELAX and enjoy this time…
where to find
Printable Wedding Planner, Elegala.com (yours truly!), FREE
link | More: Planning Made Simple
Love to Wine
With the rise of vineyard weddings and trendy mini-moons to Napa, it only makes sense for couples to tailor their wedding wish lists around the aged grape. Bottlenotes.com is a new virtual wine store where couples can start their wine cellar together by registering for their favorite bottles of red, white, rose, bubbly, and stemware. Couples can log on and set up their wine wedding registry by searching and adding bottles from their selection of over 500 wines to their wish list. Wine novices need not worry, the site includes a wine knowledge section with a 200 page Winecyclopedia®, thousands of tasting notes, and member ratings. If you’ve got questions, the site’s online experts can assess your palate and make recommendations based on your tastes. Select a few bottles from your wedding year, and pop the cork on your 25 year anniversary.
where to find
Bottlenotes.com, bottles range from under $15 to $150 and up
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To Have and to Hold on to
From a preserved bouquet to a wedding day to-do list scrawled on a napkin, weddings tend to accumulate items that inevitably gather dust in the basement for eternity. Stacie Dale Designs offers a stylish way to preserve these memories with personalized, hand-painted keepsake chests. The substantial chests are both decorative and functional and include the bride and groom’s name, wedding date, and customized motifs. Inside is plenty of room for storing everything from the marriage license to that argument-inducing seating chart that you may eventually learn to cherish…someday.
where to find
Stacie Dale Designs, 610-666-6484, staciedaledesigns.com, $190-$240
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Big Day for Little Ones
Participating in a wedding is a special honor for a child, but it can also seem overwhelming since they’re obviously not as up on wedding traditions as you. Told in playful rhyme and illustrated with watercolor paintings, The Flower Girl and The Ring Bearer by Laura Godwin will get them excited about their duties while also helping them recognize the importance of their roles. From getting all dressed up and walking down the aisle, to watching the vows and tasting the cake, these books show in a simple, clear way, everything they need to know, so it’s sure to ease the minds of nervous little girls and boys entrusted with these very special roles. Of course, the added benefit is attendants who recognize the processional isn’t the right time to ditch the basket of rose petals for a hug from Grandma.
where to find
Disney Publishing Worldwide, disneybooks.disney.go.com, $12.95
link | More: In the Details
Lift Your Spirits
Upgrade an ordinary champagne wedding toast with a sexy new fusion of wine and spirits in a curvaceous electric pink bottle. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur is made with premium vodka, sparkling wine, and a hint of fruit. The bubbly liqueur is refreshingly easy-to-drink and is best served in champagne flutes over ice. The chic pink color can instantly add flare to your décor and set a lavish vibe - but you may want to hide the lipstick-shaped bottle from the guys at the reception.
where to find
NUVO Sparkling Liqueur, sparklingnuvo.com, $25 for 750 ml bottle
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details | Nosh and Nog
Honeymoon Hottie
If you’re planning to hit a beachy paradise for your honeymoon, you will want to feel as beautiful on the beaches of Mexico as you did on your wedding day. The new collection of silk chiffon swimsuit cover-ups from Isola Isabella achieves that look of effortless elegance with fine silk fabrics sourced around the globe and embellished with Swarovski Crystals. The pieces easily transition from beach to dinner when paired with a cami and shorts, which leaves more room in your suitcase for accessories to anchor a fabulous honeymoon wardrobe.
where to find
Isola Isabella, 877-ISOLA11, isolaisabella.com, $386-$422
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Wedding Cakes Made of Jello
Cupcakes and doughnuts are trendy alternatives to traditional wedding cakes, but good ol’ Jell-O might be the most creative new option. When molded into cake form with a touch of class like this one with tropical fruit, champagne, and lychee nut from New York-based Elegant Affairs Catering, the family picnic favorite can be transformed into an elegant and refreshingly light treat perfect for a summer or outdoor wedding. Plus, it’s bound to be an instant conversation starter.
where to find
Elegant Affairs Catering, 212-475-6116, elegantaffairscaterers.com, from $550
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Break the Ice
Too often, friends and family from different circles mix as well as a purple and orange color scheme. These wedding guest ID buttons are a unique and fun way to break that ice. The buttons have titles ranging from roles in the wedding (“maid of honor”) to relationships to the bride and groom (“high school friend”), to quirky options like “traveled the farthest” or “catching the bouquet.” Hand them out at your rehearsal dinner, put them in guest welcome baskets, or let guests select one at the entry table to get the mingling going.
where to find
Make’m Mingle, 877-809-1659, makemmingle.com, $2.49-$4.49 each; discounts available on bulk orders
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details
Thank You Notes Made Easy
Etiquette experts would probably veto multiple choice cards for thank you notes, but these cheeky fill-in-the-blank cards make quick work of writing thank yous in a witty, irreverent manner. In true Mad-Libs style, busy brides can thank gift givers with a few check marks for, say, “the future heirloom,” or “the versatile cash,” and promise to “enjoy it” or “put it out when you come to visit.” Best used for less formal engagement or shower gifts, they offer a sassy way to thank those with a sense of humor. But consider yourself forewarned: You’ll probably still want to go the traditional route when writing your great grandmother about that hand-knitted scarf she gave you.
where to find
Knock Knock, knockknock.biz, 800-656-5662, $6.50 for a box of 12
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | Planning Made Simple
Solar Powered Wedding Decorations
Add a bit of enchanted whimsy to your outdoor wedding decorations with these solar-powered glass balls. Inside each of these glass ornaments is a sprinkling of phosphorescent dust that glows from sundown into the evening. Hang the Fairydust Balls (no, we didn’t come up with the name) from tree branches for a little woodland magic; you can also hang them in a window or float them in a pond. They’ll begin to glow softly when the sun sets and will last for two to four hours. They require a full day of charging in direct sun, but they can be used again and again to enhance you new home’s patio or garden decor long after the wedding.
where to find
Gardeners Supply Company, gardeners.com, 888-833-1412, $23.95 for set of three
link | More: Aisle Style | Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details
Wedding Rings of Wood
Wood may seem like the least romantic material for your wedding bands - that is until you actually take a look at the dazzling array of handcrafted wooden wedding rings from Simply Wood Rings that feature inlaid work and even stones. At a fraction of the cost of traditional wedding rings, wood rings are made from salvaged wood and recycled metals, which should set eco-conscious minds at ease. And if this still reeks a little too granola for your tastes, your tree-hugging groom may jump at the chance to have a tree hug him back.
where to find
Simply Wood Rings, simplywoodrings.com, $175-$300
link | More: Aisle Style | Buzzworthy Ideas | For the Guys
Personalized Party Plates
Although monograms have made their way onto just about every possible surface, stamping it onto a plate is relatively creative outlet for incorporating initials into your wedding day. These stylish melamine plates feature bold designs that vary from traditional scripted monograms on damask patterns to modern block letters on sassy polka dots or zebra print. There are scads of ways to use these plates: order several with your bridesmaids’ initials for pretty and practical bridesmaid gifts, or order in bulk for your bridal shower and take them home yourself for use for the parties you’ll host as a married couple.
where to find
My Clean Plate Club, mycleanplateclub.com, 888-397-6352, $22 each – discounted prices for bulk orders.
link | More: In the Details
Blushing Bubbly
Pink, the perpetual hot color on the wedding décor palette, has resurfaced to satisfy our palate for the bubbly during the wedding toasts. Rosé, French for pink, is a growing trend in champagne and the perfect accompaniment to a romantic wedding reception. Usually very dry and versatile at the dinner table, the pink color comes from adding small amounts of red pinot noir or pinot meunier juice to the white base wine.
where to find
One to Try: Veuve Clicquot’s non-vintage Rosé (veuve-clicquot.com) offers a luscious aroma of fresh and dried fruits with a luminous coppery-pink color. $65
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Trousseau for the Indie Bride
If you’re not the stereotypical poofy white dress type of bride, you may have noticed the lack of suitable alternatives that still make you, well, look like a bride. A handful of independent designers are answering that call with sophisticated and unique wedding dresses that have an artistic, edgy quality while still being pretty. Seattle-based Chrissy Wai-Ching, an artist who forayed into dress design, specializes in custom hand-dyed silk gowns featuring color choices like golds, reds, blues and greens. San Francisco-based Mignonette Bridal offers custom and ready-to-wear gowns with shorter hemlines, svelte silhouettes and non-traditional colors. Both designers cater to brides all over the nation.
where to find
Chrissy Wai-Ching, wai-ching.com, 206-229-1111, $700-$4000; Mignonette Bridal, mignonettebridal.com, 347-729-4326 ($400-$3000)
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Accidental Tourist - Destination Wedding Guides
Destination weddings continue to increase in popularity, so providing wedding guest baskets that include location information has become the norm. But why make them slum it, when they can luxe it? These Luxe City Guides are sleekly designed pocket travel guides written in a witty, irreverent tone (advice for London: “On a budget? Don’t come”). Inside is an overview of the city, as well as a highly selective and opinionated list of only the best shops, restaurants and hotels, spa services, and lifestyle options. Luxe City Guides are available for 30 cities worldwide.
where to find
Luxe City Guides, luxecityguides.com, Sets are $10 each.
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details | Planning Made Simple
Double Duty Flowers
Re-using ceremony arrangements at the reception can save money and reduce waste, but the logistics of removing and transporting cumbersome vases hinders many brides from putting the idea to practice. Answering the call are these stylishly-wrapped multifunctional paper flower pots that make it easy to invite ceremony wedding flowers to the reception.
Cathyswraps (TM) are versatile vase/wrap combos that can be hung from church pews or aisle chairs by punching a hole in the soft plastic and tying with a ribbon. The lightweight arrangements are easily untied post-ceremony and transported to the reception, either to be placed on tables as centerpieces, re-tied to chair backs, or even given away as wedding favors. Don’t fret if the plastic pots sound less than chic - the whimsical paper wraps stylize them in a variety of colors and patterns that can be customized to match any decor scheme.
where to find
Cathyswraps, 800-435-3813, cathyswraps.com, $3-$4.25 each.
link | More: Aisle Style | Buzzworthy Ideas
New Year? New Ring!
If you’re among the nearly one million brides-to-be who received an engagement ring over the holidays, it’s time to ring in the new year by scratching the first few items off your wedding day “to do” countdown. Kick start your 2009 wedding plans now!
Unfortunately, for most newly engaged women – the excitement of finally finding “the one” is dampened by a hard dose of stress and anxiety. Sure, you’ll find about a gazillion wedding planning checklists out there, but they all tend to overwhelm more than they help, and all essentially fail to address the fundamental question: “Where do I begin?”
After you’ve announced the exciting news and taken some time to bask in your newly engaged glow, it’s time to get cracking. Here are the first three wedding planning tasks you absolutely must accomplish before anything else. Cross these items off your wedding checklist – and you’re on your way.
where to find
The Elegala.com guide to getting engaged has everything you need to know to kick start your 2009 wedding plans.
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Take a Seat
In the beginning, there was a white folding chair. Then came Chivari, the ornate gold-flecked ballroom standard. Twenty years later, a wedding detail long-starved for options is reveling in newfound creativity. The aptly named GloChair has a sleek, glowing back that emits a soft blue-green light, adding a contemporary spark to posh event seating. The plush Chameleon Chair is available in a variety of sumptuous colors, patterns, and fabrics such as satin, suede or velvet to create looks that range from traditional to over-the-top.
where to find
GloChair, Lounge22, lounge22.com, 818-502-0351, $20 per chair; Chameleon Chair Collection, chameleonchair.com, 310-973-8200, from $7.95 per chair
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Hot Headgear
It may be your day to be a princess, but donning a rhinestone tiara is not required. Handcrafted headpieces from Jennifer Behr are glamorous alternatives featuring silk camellias, orchids, feathers, or diamonds that are more avant garde than cheesy. Since the headpieces have been spotted on the likes of Natalie Portman and featured in Gossip Girl, you can safely splurge on these wedding accessories knowing that you’ll likely sport the look again – which is more than you can say for the typical bridal crown.
where to find
Jennifer Behr, 718-569-2896, $68-$500, Jenniferbehr.com
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Take Back Your Wedding Registry
Tired of registries filled with practical mainstays owned by every newlywed in town? Tailor your wish list to your personal style.
The Do Gooder
Do your heart some good by creating a wedding gift registry with a more altruistic bent.
Where to Find: featuring more than one million charities from which to choose, JustGive.org is a non-profit website that lets couples build a wedding registry directed to their favorite causes.
The Luxe Lover
Bedding is a registry staple, but this is your chance to sink those pedicured toes into the Mercedes of linens. Get sumptuous threads that feel delicious on your skin and last forever.
Where to Find: Down to Basics (downtobasics.com) offers a specialty registry for high-quality, high thread count linens from lines such as Ann Gish and Sferra. They also have a storefront on Newbury Street in Boston.
The Risk Taker
You met your fiancé while running a class V rapid and feel incomplete without your backpack. With such an affinity for the outdoors, why place house with your registry? Instead, ask for all those outdoor toys you’ve both been dreaming of.
Where to Find: Outdoor retailers such as REI (rei.com) offer gift registries conspicuously absent of china, linen and crystal.
where to find
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The Pear Infusion
The pomegranate may have enjoyed recent reign as the cocktail flav du jour, but the pear may just take over thanks to the release of two pearl-flavored vodkas: Absolut Pears and Grey Goose La Poire. Paul Westerkamp, beverage director of Boston’s swanky 33 Restaurant & Lounge, thinks the pear will prove to be more than just the latest in a long line of flavored vodkas because of its place in our collective past. Pomegranates may be novel, but who hasn’t had a pear?
“Like the apple, the pear brings back comforting thoughts of Americana,” says Westerkamp, who added a seasonal cocktail using the new liquors to his menu in September. “People respond to flavors like that.”
Pear and Apple Tart
Show your guests that you’re a bona fide cocktail queen by serving up this signature pear drink from Westerkamp to start your wedding reception.You may want to conduct a few taste tests to see how the pear’s crisp mellow sweetness mixes with faves like martinis and mojitos. Ah, the hardship…
We just hope the Pomegranate doesn’t take it too hard.
- 2 parts Grey Goose La Poire or Absolut Pears
- 2 parts sweet and sour mix
- 1 part apple liqueur
- Splash of lime juice
Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Dust rim with mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and allspice. Garnish with pear slice.
where to find
link | More: Nosh and Nog
Sip in Style
You’ve meticulously planned every detail from the shoes on your feet to the wedding songs you’ll dance to. Now you can check off refreshing your guests with the new limited edition Evian water bottle designed by fashion designer Christian Lacroix. Dressed in a chic lace pattern, the frosted bottles are pretty enough to display for guests seeking something cool after a turn on the dance floor. Even if you don’t feature them at the main event, the design is stylish enough to include in your fastidiously assembled wedding guest baskets.
where to find
Evian Natural Mineral Water, shopevian.com, $118.00 for a case of 12
link | More: In the Details | Nosh and Nog
Shop ‘til Someone Else Drops
Between demanding jobs and jam-packed to-do lists, busy brides barely have time to eat, let alone paw through piles of merchandise to find the right looks for everything from the engagement gala to the bon voyage lunch. The most maxed-out brides are calling on personal shopping services to do the dirty work for them - scouring the shops for the most stylish ensembles and gifts.
where to find
Shopping services catering to brides are popping up all over the country. Polished Social Image in Boston and New York (socialimage.net) will pre-select items tailored to your tastes before you set foot in the store for $250 per hour. Dallas-based Shopping Chauffeur (shopping-chauffeur.com) and Atlanta’s Plaid Monkey (plaidmonkey.com) specialize in group shopping tours, working with brides and wedding parties to create customized VIP personal shopping experiences. Tours, starting at $175 per person at Shopping Chauffeur and $600 per excursion at Plaid Monkey, include perks like luxury transportation, lunch at a premier restaurant, private dressing rooms, and personal shopping assistance throughout the day.
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Coming Up Lemons
When the time for wedding toasts rolls around, consider swapping basic champagne for shots of chilled limoncello. The liqueur made from fermented Sorrento lemons was invented on the coast of southern Italy more than 100 years ago and is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestive. The sweet, lemony beverage has gained recent popularity in America due to celebrity endorsements from the likes of Danny DeVito, George Clooney and Avril Lavigne. Restaurants this side of the Atlantic have recently begun offering it on cocktail and dessert menus because of its refreshing lemon flavor that lacks the bitterness of actual lemon juice.
where to find
Pallini Limoncello, www.pallini.us
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details | Nosh and Nog
Deck Your Derriere
Round out your honeymoon trousseau with sweet little underthings. We love the luxurious line from couture lingerie brand, Spoylt. (Famously style-privy celebs like Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria are fans). Designed by women for women, Spoylt’s decadent delicates, handcrafted from carefully selected and dyed fabrics, strike a balance between demure and daring. After all, you deserve to spoil yourself when it comes to your bridal lingerie.
where to find
Visit Spoylt.com to purchase online and access a list of worldwide retailers.
link | More: Aisle Style
Sultan-worthy Style
Modern-day brides are the past’s fabled princesses, reincarnated with fab stilettos and PDAs, of course. And as such, they deserve a stylish tent to fit their outdoor wedding fairy tale. Raj Tents, a diamond in the white vinyl rough, offers snazzy ways to escape the elements at your wedding reception. Their collection of luxury canopies is handcrafted in India with the highest quality cotton. Sultry color combinations come to life with exotic embroidery and woodblock printing, an ancient East Asian technique. Carved wooden chairs, silk cushions, and glowing lanterns add the finishing touches that will transform an ordinary space into a scene from Arabian Nights.
where to find
Raj Tents serves clients throughout the U.S. Basic rentals start at $1,500; custom designs start at $3,450. They’ll send a crew to set up the tent on location or provide instructions for self setup. Rajtents.com, 310-320-6600
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Last Chance to Win an Early Honeymoon!
Do you have a great wedding idea or have you been to a recent wedding where a specific detail really made you say “wow.” We want to hear from you! Send us your unique, buzzworthy, or downright crazy ideas and emerging trends in the world of weddings. We’ll feature the best entries right here on the Unveiled Wedding Blog (with credit to you as the source, of course).
Best of all – winning entries are automatically entered to win a two night stay at the super luxe Taj Hotel in Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street, where you can escape all the pre-wedding insanity or cap off your honeymoon with a fabulous vacation!
But you better hurry and get your submissions in today - October 31st is the deadline for entries.
where to find
To enter, please tell us your idea by completing this brief form. Our editors will contact you should your entry be selected for a future Unveiled feature and, of course, a fabulous giveaway!
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Share the Love
Between your mother-in-law’s bridge club and your fiance’s college lacrosse team, chances are not everyone attending your wedding will know much about the chain of events resulting in their being “gathered here today.” Fill them in with professionally written and designed keepsake booklets that relay how you met, how he proposed, and other notable moments in your lives together.
Pause here for a moment to say, “ick,” at this seemingly cheesy idea, then think of it this way: The magazine-style brochure or booklet will bring home the emotion of your celebration while preventing you from having to explain how you met to one of his distant relatives when you’d rather be partying with friends. Another plus? These booklets can double as wedding favors for your guests.
The process takes anywhere from three months to a year, beginning with an in-depth interview with a professional writer. You’ll select a design and color palette and submit engagement photos or personal snapshots (professional photography is preferred, but not required).
where to find
Courship Stories, courtship-stories.com, 888-427-8584; Echo Memoirs, echomemoirs.com, 604-261-1858; Storied Memories, storied-memories.com, 888-573-4336. Costs vary greatly by company but start at around $975 per project.
link | More: Buzzworthy Ideas | In the Details
Happier Travels To You
Schlepping overstuffed suitcases as sweat stains threaten the freshness of your fabulous, if impractical, day-one honeymoon ensemble, or worse – stewing in yesterday’s travel clothing while awaiting your bag that errantly made a detour to Yemen - is hardly a romantic way to spend your first hours as newlyweds. Instead, enlist a luggage forwarding service, and enjoy the worry-free honeymoon travel that comes with knowing your bags await upon your arrival. Whether its skis, a set of golf clubs, or shoes – lots and lots of shoes - they’ll collect it all from your home while you jet off to your honeymoon or wedding destination, and voila, your luggage is waiting for you in your room. And there you’ll relax with a tasty beverage in hand, smirking slightly as you think of those fellow honeymooners still stuck at baggage claim – wishing they were as savvy as you.
It’s easier than you think. Simply schedule your desired pick up, destination location, and travel time with a luggage forwarding service, and they’ll handle the rest. Sure, such convenience doesn’t come cheap. You can expect to pay about $100 per bag on average, and prices vary depending on where you are going, weight and number of bags, and how quickly you want them to get there.
But if you’re planning a trip that cannot go wrong – and we think a honeymoon falls into this category - you may want to seriously consider this dreamy excuse to pack heavy and travel light.
where to find
Consult this list of reputable luggage forwarding services:
The Luggage Club, 877-231-5131
Luggage Forward, 866-416-7447
Luggage Free, 800-361-6871
XS Baggage, 866-656-6977
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Clutch Control
So you’ve got the rock and you’ve found your frock, but you’re a bit perturbed whenit comes to your wedding day arm candy. In the world of wedding accessories and bridal purses, the profusion of gaudy beading and chintzy white satin just doesn’t cut it for the fashion forward bride. Answering the call for a suitable option are online storefronts that make getting your hands on a stylish couture bag for your wedding convenient and affordable.
Take M. Avery Designs. This interactive online handbag salon allows you to design a one-of-a-kind bag where you can select the shape, fabric and adornments. And if you’ve got a vision in your head, designer Megan Avery will work with you to create the bag of your dreams. Another option is 1154 Lill Studio, an online boutique where brides can choose from over twenty five styles, then mix and match from hundreds of fabric choices for the exterior, interior, pockets, trim, straps and more.
where to find
M. Avery Designs, maverydesigns.com, 201-876-1198. Prices start around $50 depending on style and fabric. 1154 Lill Studio, 1154lillstudio.com, 773-292-6310. Prices range from about $50 for a wristlet and up to $80 for a handbag
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Green My Ride
The latest vendors to jump on the green wedding bandwagon are the ones who will actually get you to and from the church. A number of green-oriented wedding transportation services now feature fleets of fuel-efficient sedans, limos, or buses. Book the same way you would that gas guzzling Hummer limo, since eco-transportation options are comparable in price. Then celebrate the fact that you can still arrive instyle, just while taking up a fraction of the carbon footprint. Who said it’s not easy being green?
where to find
PlanetTran, planettran.com, 888-756-8876; OZOcar, ozocar.com, 866-696-5966; Elite Green Car, elitegreencar.com, 404-350-8511; Eco Limo, eco-limo.com, 888-432-6546. Rates are similar to gas-powered car services, starting at about $50 per hour.
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Collar Couture
When did wedding party roles get so complicated? Nowadays, you can have a man-of-honor named Chuck or a best woman named Carol, so it’s no surprise that Fido is the new ring bearer of choice. As including dogs in the wedding ceremony becomes de rigueur, the pressing question arises: what should your furry friend wear for this momentous occasion since the average leash or collar simply won’t do? That’s where Hamptons Hound comes in. This luxury pet boutique has a special bridal line of intricately hand-beaded or rhinestone leather collars suitable for even the most elegant events.
Let’s just hope that Fido doesn’t see his snazzy new ensemble as an open invitation to join the dinner table at the reception.
where to find
Hamptons Hound, hamptonshound.com, 212-564-5949, $40-180
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Contribute to Unveiled and Win!
Do you have a great wedding idea or have you been to a recent wedding where a specific detail really made you say “wow.” We want to hear from you! Send us your unique, buzzworthy, or downright crazy ideas and emerging trends in the world of weddings. We’ll feature the best entries right here on the Unveiled Wedding Blog (with credit to you as the source, of course).
Best of all – winning entries are automatically entered to win a two night stay at the super luxe Taj Hotel in Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street, where you can escape all the pre-wedding insanity or cap off your honeymoon with a fabulous vacation!
where to find
To enter, please tell us your idea by completing this brief form. Our editors will contact you should your entry be selected for a future Unveiled feature and, of course, a fabulous giveaway!
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The Lash of Luxury
Batting an eye is an old standby in the arsenal of feminine wiles, but guys should beware - this invaluable tool just gained a convincing upgrade. Eyelash extensions are the newest health and beauty treatments for brides seeking to accessorize their wedding day look with extreme flutter power after Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez first sported the wide-eyed look on the red carpet.
Not to be confused with the self-stick falsies of yesteryear, these semi-permanent, synthetic extensions mimic the natural lash. A technician applies them one at a time using tweezers and adhesive, which takes about anhour and a half. They last for two months, and wearers can swim, bathe, shower, and workout without compromising their thick-lashed look.
where to find
Salons such as John Barrett in New York and Fred Segal Beauty in Santa Monica have added the treatment to meet demand. New England brides can pop into Boston’s LuxLash (luxlash.com, 866-587-5274) for extensions. The Newbury Street spa offers complete services for bridal parties.
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Party With a Rock Star
It turns out chivari chairs and silk table linens aren’t the only upgrades for rent. Today’s hottest party accessory is the rentable rock star. You can now splurge on the living breathing version of stars such as Christina Aguilera, Joe Cocker, or Carrie Underwood to belt out your first dance song or headline the entire affair. For those of us without a Hollywood in, Grabow Entertainment offers VIP access to some of the hottest acts in the music industry. They handle all the details, from contracting the event with the talent’s agent to managing onsite production. They make hiring the stars a lot easier than you think, provided you can foot the bill.
where to find
Grabow Entertainment, grabow.biz, 888-290-1162. Prices range from $10,000-$20,000 for lesser celebrity acts up to $100,000 and beyond for the artists in highest demand.
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Extreme Bachelorette Party
Alas, saying farewell to singledom no longer requires donning a dime-store tiara while a lubed-up dancer named Duke invades your personal space. Wild bachelorette party send-offs have a new G-rated cousin: extreme weekends of sky-diving, rock climbing, and white water rafting to name a few.
How to Plan an Extreme Bachelorette Party:
Adventure Bachelorette Party (hitzadventures.com) organizes everything from the lodging to the activity with trusted outfitters around the U.S. Packages start at $349 per person, depending on location and activity, and cost includes just about everything but airfare. Good news ladies - they plan stripper-free adventure bachelor parties for the guys too.
where to find
Hitz Adventures, hitzadventures.com, 248-910-8152
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True Colors
Tired of paying homage to the homogenous, some stationers are branching out with new lines of invitations and announcements that represent a more inclusive cross-section of brides. Multicultural wedding invitations add color to the white wedding with rich jewel tones and illustrations of brides and bridesmaids from African American, Latino, Hispanic and Asian backgrounds. The new options are available for every component of your stationery suite from save-the-dates and attendant cards to shower and rehearsal dinner invites. From an industry that banks on weddings as expressions of individuality, we think this makes only too much sense.
where to find
Kemse & Company, kemseandcompany.com, 888-656-1452; Bonnie Marcus Collection, bonniemarcus.com, 866-675-7895. Boxes of eight to 10 start at $10.
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Rock Their World
Between unflattering dresses and Friday nights spent licking envelopes, bridesmaids have it tough. The best cure for the always-a-bridesmaid blues? A little bling of their own.
Embraced by celebrities like Oprah, Tyra Banks and Kirsten Dunst, the Ah Ring is a diamond pinkie ring featuring eleven small round cut diamonds fashioned in a 14-karat white gold band. It’s a great idea for bridesmaid gifts your girls will actually like, since this is a diamond ring that celebrates their relationship status for a change. For your single pals, “A” stands for Available, and “h,” happy – or for those already taken, Attached and happy.
It will also cost you more than a cliché monogrammed tote – maybe give it as a special gift for your maid-of-honor if you don’t want to take out a loan to supply them for your nine bridesmaids – but these sparkling rocks are sure to earn forgiveness for that requisite teeth whitening you forced them to endure.
where to find
Divine Diamonds,divinediamonds.com, $295
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Good Grooming
Your guy just sprung for the diamond on your left finger, so it’s a nice gesture to give him a little something too. Yet, we’re not talking some over-the-top gift that only benefits him. Slip him The Groom’s Instruction Manual by former groom Shandon Fowler, out this year from Quirk Books. Stress to him that this is not like the number of other sleepy, how-to planning guides for men that have come before it; Fowler presents the useful basics in a hilarious guy-oriented manner. If your fiance doesn’t believe you, turn to the introduction on foral arrangements that suggests, “most men with any common sense would have already skipped to the next section.”
The point, of course, is that we believe an informed groom is an involved groom, which every bride wants. You may not be so excited when he’s cackling at the bridezilla graphic (the book is full of funny graphics and witty captions to keep them reading), but we’re betting you’d rather he laugh now and plan later than not at all.
where to find
Quirk Books, quirkbooks.com, $15.95
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Custom ‘maid
Weddings are often about compromise, but when it comes to your bridesmaids of varying sizes and shapes all fitting into the same dress, there’s often no wiggle room. Thankfully, modern alternatives have arrived to ensure your ‘maids feel fabulous while providing a cohesive look for the wedding party.
Online boutiques like Olivia Luca and Coco Myles now allow you to create one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses by selecting body style, skirt shape, fabric, color, and embellishments. You can have as much or as little control as you like; each girl can create her own style (with your direction), or the whole bridal party can get together to create one dress that everyone loves.
Another concept is brought to you by Twobirds. The boutique features one simple dress that can be worn more than 10 different ways, with instructions on creating each look. The bride selects a color and each bridesmaid can wrap her dress into the variation that caters to her personal style and figure.
where to find
Olivia Luca, Olivialuca.com, 503-753-2787, from $260; Colo Myles, Colomyles.com, 866-599-2626, from $125; Twobirds, Twobirdsbridesmaid.com, 212-633-1384, from $270.
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Wall Art
Graffiti at your wedding? Oh, the horror! The dubious art form may be the last idea you had in mind for your wedding decorations, but a little wall artwork can actually add some flair to a bland function space. Wonderful Graffiti Wedding’s removable vinyl letters and symbols appear painted on when affized to smooth surface, making it easy to enhance your decor with a quote, poem, or welcome note. The good news, especially if your venue has a strict “nothing on the walls” policy, is that you can place these standard or custom-made transfers just about anywhere - on the dance floor, entrance doors, even on your getaway car. Order four to six weeks in advance, then apply yourself or arrange for professional installation. After the wedding, the strips are easily peeled away without causing any surface damage.
where to find
Wonderful Graffiti Wedding, wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com, 877-577-5675. Standard designs start at $15; custom designs start at $!0 more.
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Sweet Centerpieces
Tables topped with wedding flowers may look and smell good, but these s’mores stations make for a fun way to get guests’ mouths involved too. The all-in-one kits from Cosi Restaurants allow you to enjoy the gooey pleasures of this campfire favorite, minus all the smoke, ash, and mosquitos. As the latest in edible centerpieces, they also add an interesting aesthetic to your tables and an interactive dessert station to enjoy after the dinner plates have cleared. Each kit contains a hibachi, wooden platter, bamboo marshmallow skewers, matches, and, of course, marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.
where to find
If you’re not near one of the 100-plus Cosi locations across the country, order online at getcosi.com, $40 each.
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Dress Redux
Your mom may think otherwise, but retiring your wedding dress to the closet for eternity hardly seems a fitting tribute. You now have another option to give added life to your gown.
Trash it!
We’re assuming you’ve heard of the Trash the Dress phenomenon that has made its rounds over the past few years. But if you’ve been so buried in planning that you haven’t, it involves one last photo shoot in your gown after your day is done. Only this time, you swim in it, roll around on the beach, even blast it with paintballs. It’s a way to add an artistic element to your wedding pictures that can also symbolically and forever free you from the rigors of wedding planning.
where to find
Cape Cod Photo & Video (1-800-760-VIDEO) offers trash the dress sessions for brides in the Cape Cod/New England area. Or visit Trashthedress.com for a list of photographers around the nation
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Going Postal
You may want to put a personal stamp on your wedding invitations, but it’s probably best not to wait for the post office to release your mug on their next commemorative series. So do it yourself at Zazzle.com, where you can make your own custom postage.
The site guides you through easy step-by-step instructions that even your mother-in-law could follow, and your options are practically endless. Use your engagement photo, monogram, or even your parents’ wedding picture. Simply select your size and quantity, upload an image, and add some text. Your very own personalized postage stamps should arrive in about a week.
where to find
Zazzle.com, books of 20 first class stamps start at $14.95
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Wedding Dress as Still Life
Sure, you only wear it once, but a wedding dress can be appreciated as a fashion objet d’art. Capture the masterpiece in all its glory with a one-of-a-kind fashion illustration by artist Jennifer Angilello. You’ll revere it long after you’ve retired the dress to the closet.
Why We Love It
This isn’t just a retread of the bridal or engagement portrait. Jennifer Angilello creates a sophisticated yet whimsical fashion illustration depicting you in your gown, all with a chic look that emphasizes your dress. Send in photos from your wedding or from a fitting, and Angilello creates a custom illustration ($375) in four to six weeks.
where to find
Artist, Jennifer Angilello (based in San Francisco), aboutthedress.com, 415-307-7990
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Alltop.com adds Unveiled to their list of top wedding blogs!
Alltop has added Unveiled to its list of the best wedding blogs. For those of you unfamiliar with the site, Alltop collects stories from “all the top” sites on the web and groups them by topic. Inclusion in the list is purely subjective, so we’re honored that their editors have deemed Unveiled worthy to be listed as one of the web’s best wedding blogs.
where to find
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Star Appeal
Think movie stars have all the fun? Think again. High-end jewelers also cater to brides looking to rent incredible accessories for their walk down the red carpet, er, aisle.
How It Works:
Adornbrides.com offers brides glamorous baubles for a day. Go online to browse their selection of high-end necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Then enter your wedding date, pick your jewelry type, and find your desired piece.
You pay a nonrefundable deposit of twenty-five percent of the total lease price (about $80-$400) when you make your reservation. When Adorn Brides ships your jewelry, the company reserves approximately one third of the retail value on your credit card as a security deposit (retail value ranges about $2,000-$11,000). You receive your jewelry via overnight delivery two days before your wedding. Return it on the first business day following your event in the enclosed pre-addressed and pre-paid packaging. Upon receipt of the return shipment, Adorn Brides removes the reserve and charges the remaining lease balance.
where to find
Adornbrides.com or inquire at your local jeweler.
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Confection-Free Cakes
Scattered plates with barely nibbled pieces of wedding cake are an all-too-familiar sight at receptions. If you want to serve a dessert your guests will actually eat, consider a wedding “cake” made of cheese. No, not the rich, loaded with sugar variety with graham cracker crust - literally a cake made of cheese stacked in tiers and decorated to look like a wedding cake. Adornments like foliage, grapes, berries, nuts, and flowers transform a creamy lancashire or unpasteurized cheddar into an elaborate wedding cake that can match your decor scheme.
The trend is taking off in the U.K. where cheese for dessert is prevalent. In its infancy on this side of the pond, this is a chance for you to be truly on the cusp. Guests with a savory soft spot and those last holdovers from the Atkins revolution will be only too happy to forego the buttercream frosting and rolled fondant.
where to find
Dean & DeLuca, a luzury grocer based in NYC, imports fine European cheese from The Fine Cheese Co. They will work closely with you to select and deliver the right contrast of suitable cheese for a cheese wedding cake. Visit finecheese.co.uk for inspiration, then call Dean & DeLuca, 800-999-0306 for a price quote.
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The Right Direction
On a fun scale of one to ten, wedding dress shopping easily gets a ten. Creating directions for out-of-town guests: most definitely a one. That is, until Weddingmapper.com recently launched its interactive site where you can create an online wedding map for your guests and personalize it with photos, web links, and descriptions. You plot your points using the easy-to-follow instructions, and your finished map is saved as a secure web page to share with guests.
The fun part comes in getting a little creative. Add the full map into a personal wedding website, design and print a customized version, or upload descriptive photos. Or play the part of resident tour guide by filling your map with interesting facts about your wedding locales. Just don’t blame us when you miss your final dress fitting while perfecting your map.
where to find
Supported by third party ads, Wedding Mapper is free to use; $9.95 removes ads, gets you a customized url, and lets you add additional links and upload files.
link | More: Planning Made Simple
Blinged Out Baked Goods
When it comes to wedding day bling, bejeweled brides have some competition. Now your cake can don jewelry too! That’s right, the latest adornments to hit wedding cakes are hand-made Swarovski Crystal Cake Jewelry. Design a sparkilicious cake bedecked with crystal monograms, hearts, flowers or butterflies.
How it Works: Order a cake from your local bakery, then use the customizing tools available at VeryDifferentCakes.com to design dazzling cake jewelry for it. Choose from a variety of sizes, jewel colors and styles. All pieces come with a stem that is easy to stick into any cake. Orders take three weeks to design and ship, so give yourself enough lead-time. Your bakery (or a bridesmaid) can apply the cake jewelry for you.
where to find
Crystal Monogram Cake Toppers (starting at $148), Crystal Heart Toppers (starting at $95), Crystal Flowers (starting at $9), Butterflies, Dragonflies and Lady Bugs (starting at $2) can be found at VeryDifferentCakes.com or call 323-466-1480.
Looking for more? Get even more ideas for unusual wedding cakes here.
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From Shoes to “Choos”
Give ordinary bridal kicks a shoe makeover even Jimmy would evny. Crystal shoe clips add a touch of edgy glamour to ordinary wedding shoes. Elegant and subtle, the clips come in a variety of designs featuring intricate beads, rhinestones, bows - you name it. Best of all, reuse them on other accessories after the big day.
where to find
Absolutely Audrey shoe clips (average about $30); find retailers near you or order online at absolutelyaudrey.com
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Let Them Eat Prada
Alas, the favor gods have smiled… Behold the long-awaited food and fashion fusion. Treat your guests to Stoli ganache-filled “Pravda” handbags. This twist on the traditional wedding favor is a tiny chocolate handbag in baby pink croc and adorned with an edible candy pearl clash. Who doesn’t love edible couture?
where to find
Visit chocochocohouse.com to order two-piece favor sets ($6.50/set; discounts on orders over 50)
Preferred vendor listed in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Wedding Event Planners section of Decidio.com
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