Someone get me out of this purple haze!

You know, the thing I found most unbelievable in the predictable chick flick 27 Dresses  were the bridesmaid dresses. Katherine Heigl had 27 very unique and different dresses. There is no way that is even close to reality! In our "dress up" chest growing up we had 3 peach dresses that were worn by my mom in her friend's weddings. My older sister could outfit an entire wedding party in long, chocolate, satin gowns. Luckily, I've escaped bad dresses so far (thank you Ashely and Katie!) but we all know how rare that is.

These days, everyone is allllll about the purple. They may call it eggplant or aubergine, but nearly every wedding I've seen lately has been covered in this color.  When I'm working with a bride, I always ask fairly early what colors she plans on using. Nine times out of ten she'll list off the basics (black, white, silver, gold..) and end with "and a really deep shade of purple." Now, if your favorite color in the whole world is amethyst and you can't imagine using any other color, ignore me! It truly is a pretty hue and I'm not knocking it at all, I just get tired of the redudancy.

You can still have the same cool effect with different colors and be much more unique. Theknot.com is a great resource for picking colors. They have samples of weddings in many colors, and also have impressive inspiration boards.

I'm currently loving turquoise and red together, especially for brides planning a very fun and lively wedding.

If you love navy blue, what about pairing it with a bright, punchy yellow?

Coral and a pale, sage green look fantastic together.

I really think before picking your colors you need to think of what ambience you want your wedding to have. So many brides are choosing colors and style based off what a magazine tells them is "in." For example, a bride I've been working with recently ordered a rich, dark purple for her bridesmaid attire. She saw several lovely pictures in a magazine and decided that color would do. The wedding is an outdoor affair at a terrace in April. She is now regretting her decision because deep purple does not scream "garden" or "spring." It's important to think of your entire wedding as a whole-- not just bits and pieces of trendy and fun ideas all thrown together. Since she had already purchased the dresses, I helped her tweak her accent colors to a light shade of green and lavendar, which happens to be her favorite color, to get her wedding back on track.

If you're having trouble envisioning colors together, step away from the computer. Not every beautiful color combination is already easily found on the internet. Go to a fabric store and put different swatches together, you may surprise yourself with what you love.

I urge you, brides of midwest America, to think outside of the box when it comes to your wedding! Enough with the eggplant!

Whew, now that I have that off my chest, I think I'll go watch Julia Roberts sass her Momma with one of my favorite movie lines, "My colors are blush and bashful!"

Ah-Maaaaazing DIY Shoes

I have a fabulous friend, Liz, who adores all things bling and has a shoe collection that rivals Carrie Bradshaw's.  She has top notch taste and I knew she wouldn't disappoint when it came to her wedding shoes.

It all started when she fell in love with a pair of Stuart Weitzman's that were just a leeetle outside of her budget. They were gold, gorgeous and well.. I'll just post a picture because words won't do these shoes justice.

She couldn't justify spending over $500 on a pair of shoes that weren't her preferred color. As luck would have it, she was introduced to a website that makes women squeal and men weep: ZAPPOS. After searching for a time she came across another pair of Weitzman's that were considerably more affordable.

For many brides that would have been sufficient, and they would have ordered the classic, simple shoe and called it a day. But, you don't know my friend Liz. Those plain shoes merely did not have enough pizzazz for my sparkle loving friend. She toyed with the idea of dying them blue, as it's her favorite color. Even cobalt blue shoes would have been memorable. Liz made the right choice though, and decided to create her own bedazzled shoes, inspired by the gold ones she had fallen for.

Liz used four different colors of rhinestones to "frost" her satin stilletos. The result is the most incredible pair of wedding shoes I have ever seen!



She is a brave, brave woman for attempting this on an expensive pair of shoes but they are TO DIE FOR! If you're like me, and not quite as bold, it would still be sensational to do this to a pair of say-- Benjamin Walk Touch Ups. Use whatever color crystals you like and have at it, lady!

DIY - Veils

If you've already found your dress, I'm sure you've seen the high price on veils. Assuming that you can sew on a button, I have no doubt you can make your own veil! Those of you not getting married can take a few notes for bachelorette parties or for a special gift to a bride.

Before you start, you need to know what length you want. This will determine what width of tulle, as well as how many yards of it you will need. For a full, poufy veil you should get 108" width. You also need that width if you're planning on a longer veil, such as cathedral length. For a bridcage, or sleek fingertip length veil you may favor 72" tulle. Tulle comes in a variety of textures, many of the extremely cheap variety will be fairly stiff. I recommend tulle that is a little bit softer to the touch, it tends to drape prettier.

Next, decide the type of trim you would like to use. Some of you may prefer your veil unadorned, if so, just skip this step. Tulle looks great unfinished and it won't fray like many other fabrics if you let it alone.

Most craft and fabric stores will have ready made trims. You can get something dazzling and save yourself the hard work of hand beading the edge. I popped into a local fabric store and found gorgeous lace for $9.50 a yard, flashy beaded trim for $6 a yard, and classic satin cord for $1.99 per yard. Keep in mind you will only need the detail on three sides of the veil. Use needle and thread to attatch your desired edging to the tulle. Take your time with this step, especially if you are new to sewing.

For an experienced sewer, you very well may be a little more ambitious. It won't be much work to find beading and hand-sew it yourself. I applaud veils that are one of a kind. I myself love to embroider, and found silver and gold threads for under 50 cents. Make your own pattern, or find one in a book and embellish that tulle exactly how you see fit!

Once you have your tulle gracefully detailed, it's time to attach it to a comb. To keep it simple, go to Hobby Lobby and buy a metal or plastic comb.

Find the very center of the top edge and sew it to the center of your comb. You will want to make sure the edge (as in the tulle you don't want seen) is on the inside of the comb. Some people have trouble figuring out which side is the top. The comb is curved so that it will lay flat on your head... Don't forget that while making your veil! Gather the tulle and continue to sew to each edge, ensuring you cover the sides of the comb. If the top of your veil doesn't look perfect enough for you, find a brooch or hair pin to attach to the top and hide your mistakes. You can either sew it or bobby pin into your hair on the wedding day. Not into bling? Satin ribbon or lace can easily be sewn across the top to disguise any "oops" moments.

*Please note, in this picture, you are viewing the underside of the comb!!*

Now, if all of that seems too much trouble, but you still want to save some dough, I have two suggestions. Browse Etsy for a variety of styles at an affordable price. Another suggestion? Ask your seamstress! She may have ideas or be able to incorporate something else from your dress to make you a one of a kind veil for way less money than the boutiques are going to charge!

What to do for those lovely 'maids?

I have had a hard time deciding exactly where to start, I just have too many ideas swirling in my head. I figured one thing was easy to tackle-- bridesmaid gifts.

How many strands of plastic pearls do you own, from a well meaning bride that wanted all of her bridesmaids to have matching jewelry? Do you have a flask engraved with the wedding date of your best friend? How about a cheesy picture frame with an etched quote about friendship?

Let's face it, nearly all of the presents from your bride-to-be are a waste of money. You may keep them for a year (or more if you are a bit of a hoarder like myself) and eventually they end up in the trash. If you want to spend your hard earned cash on a gift for them, make it something they will actually appreciate!

For example, you can find inexpensive REAL pearls on the internet. Now, they may be freshwater or baroque pearls as opposed to those Tahitian and Akoya stunners, but at least they're the real thing. I recommend ebay vendor Pearllunar to get natural pearls at a fantastic price. They do custom orders, so you can get your girls whatever color, size, and length you want! You can still have a cohesive and classic look without feeling like you cheated your girls.

These days being green is something we all need to be thinking about. I bet your friends would really enjoy personalized, reusable totes for grocery trips and excursions to the mall. Sure, you can easily buy monogrammed bags online, but it would be even more special if you made them yourself. I adore this idea from Ashleyannphotography.

For instructions, go to her blog here. I love that a doily and paint can make something so adorable. Paint it in her favorite color, or maybe that lovely shade of lilac she'll be wearing on your special day.

Another idea to knock their socks off-- gemstone pendants. I know, they sound pricey, but, they don't have to be! My favorite vendor is a jeweler on etsy, Daniel M Jewelry. Daniel and his wife Caren are a dream to work with. They do all kinds of custom projects from rings, to cufflinks. His Rainbow Bezel Pendants are truly gorgeous and you have so many color options. You could either do them all the same shape and color, or switch things up. Pick colors each individual would like and then choose what cut they might wear most. It would show your best friends that while you may have been crazy in the months leading up to the wedding, you are still thinking about them. These necklaces are something any girl would absolutely cherish for years to come.

If all of those options are a little too girly-girl for your tom-boy sister, look for a nice, hardback version of her favorite book. Write her a meaningful note on the inside cover, so she can always think of you when she re-reads "The Great Gatsby" for the 10th time. Buy her a fancy bottle of wine or get her a years subscription to her favorite magazine. The possibilities are endless!

Just think a little outside of the box and get your bridesmaids a gift they will treasure. It doesn't have to be difficult or contrived! And please, don't forget to include a heartfelt card detailing how much her involvement in this special day means to you.

"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be."

-Robert Browning

What's new in bridal fashions

Over the weekend I attended the Dallas Market Center's Spring 2011 Bridal Market, and I got to view some truly marvelous new fashions.

As expected, texture is even bigger and better in the gowns for next season. Roses made of organza or chiffon, silk petals  across the bodice and layers on nearly every skirt. Pronovias' "Gaudi" from 2010 was only a taste of what is to come!

Another huge trend is the return of the ballgown. Pickups are nearly a thing of the past (thank GOODNESS), and the newer ballgowns are less Disney Princess and more Grace Kelly. Once again, textured details are abundant on these dresses. Get ready for the return of the traditional bride.

Now, my favorite gowns--the dresses that make me drool--are all the stunning lace confections that are growing more and more popular. Say goodbye to strapless and say hello to open keyhole backs, high collars and feminine lace straps. My mother, who is not a big fan of strapless dresses in church, will be pleased to see that Ivanka Trump started a beautiful trend that I for one, hope lasts.

One more thing to look out for will be short wedding gowns. Tea-, knee- and cocktail-length are all in style. Nearly every line has at least one, sometimes three or four darling little dresses in their collections. These dresses will be fantastic for that backyard barbecue, courthouse elopement or beach wedding. Just look at the detail on this Justin Alexander frock:

Accessories in recent months have been throwbacks to the past. Birdcage veils are now a staple at any bridal salon, and headpieces look like they could have come from Grandma's jewelry box. Expect that to go into overdrive this season. I saw so many beautiful hats made from horsehair, feathers and silk flowers. A lot of these show-stopping pieces may take a little bit of nerve to wear, but those brave enough to wear them will certainly be remembered.

Now I will have to admit I spent a small portion of my day stalking wedding planner David Tutera. I briefly saw him last year in Chicago while he was promoting his new line of wedding gowns David Tutera by Faviana but I didn't have the nerve to snap a picture with him. I was bound and determined to get that picture this year, but I missed him by a little less than an hour. His showroom was pleasantly surprising. His new Spring 2011 line is sure to be a hit.

I can't wait for the new dresses to hit the salons and boutiques across America in late December and early January! 

"A good marriage is like a casserole, only those responsible for it know what goes in it."
--Annonymous