It’s All in the Details: Black, White, and Chevron All Over

It’s All in the Details by Corine Brosseau

For the past couple years, we have seen chevron popping up all over the wedding world.  From sweet invites to stunning fondant covered cakes, this simple geometric pattern has been omnipresent in all sorts of wedding details.  The beauty of chevron is that it can be tailor made to fit any color palette you want, whether you’re loving spring’s trendy pastels or bright citrus hues.  However, sometimes the most timeless colors for a wedding are black and white.  Below, we’ve created an inspiration board that pairs chevron with monochromatic hues and a pop of metallic gold for some extra glitz.

Clockwise, from top left: The Inspired Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, Little Blue Feathers, Juxtapost, Paper Source, Sweet Sorella, Joie Lala Photography, Style Unveiled

 

Would you incorporate the chevron trend into your wedding day?  How much of the pattern is too much?

Let us know your thoughts!

Manic Monday: Physical Release

Manic Monday: Alyssa Aiola

If you feel like you are alone when it comes to wedding stress we are here to tell you your not, in fact it’s expected.  Between planning, organizing and maybe even the entire aspect of getting married you have a lot to be over whelmed by. A simple easy way to channel all this pent up anxiety can be through something as simple and old school as exercise.  Exercise is proven to relieve all types of stress and there are so many different types and forms that you are bound to find something perfect for  you. Engaging in moderate exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your mood dramatically statistics show and an added bonus is you will tone up for the big day! Here are a few different forms of exercise that maybe you never even considered would help ease wedding day stress that are not only good for your body but also mental health.

• Yoga: Many people think that yoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits.

• Hot Yoga: Hot yoga is a vigorous form of yoga performed in a studio that is heated to 105 F (40 C) and has a humidity of 40 percent. The formal name for hot yoga is Bikram. Bikram yoga is a 90-minute program that consists of a series of 26 postures. The postures require lengthy, forceful and well-controlled contractions of all major muscle groups. The demanding nature of the poses and the heat are designed to raise your heart rate and tire your muscles.

• Restorative Yoga: While many forms of yoga offer a relaxing element to their practice, some poses and postures may require a lot of effort to maintain or get into—not exactly something you need to stress over if you’re burned out. Instead of moving from pose to pose, you’ll hold restful positions for a longer period of time, giving your body the opportunity to truly let go and releas

• NIA: which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Action, is a blend of martial arts, dance, and healing arts. Done barefoot, this workout features a flowing blend of movement that combines deep breathing exercises with moves like kicks and turns to keep your heart rate elevated, your mind relaxed, and your body moving.

• Tai Chi: An ancient martial arts form originally developed in China, Tai Chi is a flowing, meditative series of movements designed to connect the mind and body and foster a sense of calm and serenity. But don’t be fooled by its peaceful nature—tai chi will keep you constantly in motion, engage your entire body, and offer a great mental challenge to stay present and in the moment.

• Kick Boxing: Combines elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics to provide overall physical conditioning and toning. Did we mention it is probably one of the best stress relievers if you just want to punch something, and no not your photographer!!!

• Koga: This unique form of exercise takes the best of yoga and kickboxing and combines them! Koga combines the mind-body mindset of yoga with the intense isometric and plyometric movements of boxing into one workout. Proponents of Koga say it increases your flexibility as well as burns fat and tones muscles.

let us know what forms of exercise has helped you cope with your wedding stress by commenting on our blog, writing on our facebook or tweeting to us!!

Fashion Fever: Gorgeously Gatsby

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

With the latest film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” right around the corner, the idea of showing up to your wedding looking like a 1920s film star is surely a popular one. Today, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite fashion details taken right from the grand Gatsby tradition.

Clockwise, from top left: Glamour and Grace, Style Me Pretty, YolanCris, Style Me Pretty, Johanna Johnson, Michael Segal

1. Feathers – Opulent and dreamy, some stunning plumage really brings that vintage elegance to a wedding day ensemble. Whether at the bottom of a snug mermaid gown or as a beautiful element for a headpiece, they are a great way to incorporate a 1920s theme.

2. Headpieces – The more intricate, the better as far as headpieces go. A lace cap really brings to mind that quintessential Flapper style while an intricate headband is a bit more Daisy Buchanan.

3. Beading – A dress that skims close to the sides while simply dripping in elegant beading transports you back to the lavish parties at Gatsby’s home.

4. Dropped Waists – A dropped waist is the perfect silhouette for a 20′s look.

5. Bold Makeup – Dark, smoky eyes, wispy lashes, and a bold crimson lip add to the sultry intrigue of the 1920s woman.

These are just a few of the 1920s details we adore! Stay tuned for our latest project, a beautiful 1920s, Gatsby-esque inspiration shoot. Here is a sneak peek from the shoot, featuring our beautiful model, Alexis Monnie:

While you wait for the photos to drop, be sure to check out the amazing vendors we partnered up with for the shoot: Violet and Verde for florals, SB Beauty for hair and makeup, Hushed Commotion for the amazing headpieces, Saucy by Nature for catering, Cake Alchemy for the cake, Cloth Connection for linens, Little Vintage Rentals for amazing props and tableware, Angelique Bridal and Nearly Newlywed for the fabulous fashion, The Green Building for our lovely venue, and the amazing Moss & Isaac, whose photography brought it all together!!

Its All In The Details: Water Colors

Its All In The Details: Alyssa Aiola

Remember when you were little and you thought you were creating art masterpieces by blending all your watercolor paints together, well now you can be one! One of the biggest wedding trends and themes for Summer 2013 is the use of watercolors throughout your wedding. This theme is not only fun but it also is extremely feminine and romantic if you properly balance out the use of pastel shades with the soft texture of handmade brush stores. This trend is popping up everywhere from invitations, escort cards, backdrops, decor and even cakes. If your husband feels the theme might be to feminine, a great way to balance out the pastels is with a shade of navy blue.  Here are a few of our favorite wedding details sharing the wedding theme of water colors, let us know what you think!

Photo Cred from top left to right: OnceWed.com, Oncewed.com, Stylemepretty, Oncewed.com, Bellabloom floral design, Martha Stewart Wedding Design, Jose Villa Photographym, Artizia, Wedding Paper Divas.

Manic Monday: Keep Calm at the Kids’ Table

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

Though it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, sometimes a wedding is simply a lot more special when the treasures children in your life take part, be it your own children, a godchild, or perhaps your nieces and nephews. While this will surely result in lots of aww-worthy photos, it can be stressful for you and simply boring for the kids if you don’t provide some type of entertainment for them.

There are plenty of fun activities you can provide your younger wedding day guests to make sure that they’re having fun and not getting into mischief. One of my personal favorites is a good old scavenger hunt for the little ones. Provide a disposable camera – or an instant print Polaroid – to each kid and give them a list of things to find at the party. You may want to include things like someone doing the robot, a slice of wedding cake, or the bride’s bouquet. This will keep the kids busy for quite some time and they can all compare pictures at the end.

Of course, another easy option is to provide crayons and coloring books for the little ones. You can find personalized coloring books online that prompt the kids to decorate a picture of a wedding cake or recount a treasured memory they had with the bride and groom. At the end of the wedding, have each kid hand in their memories to include them in a guest book or wedding day photo album.

To keep the event even more stress free, keep in mind the following when making plans for littler guests:

- Have an age limit. If you don’t want to hear crying throughout the night, make sure you tell your guests to keep the infants and younger toddlers at home.

- Have some kid-friendly bites available. Let’s face it, most kids are downright picky when it comes to eating. Here’s where chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks come in handy!

- Check with your venue to see if they offer a babysitter or kid’s room for the evening so that your guests don’t have to leave them at home.

- Make sure the kids feel like part of the party. Encourage them to dance and have fun – things like the Macarena are perfect for this.

How did you include kids in your big day? Let us know on Facebook!!

Manic Monday: DIY Do’ and Don’t's

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

DIY projects are all the rage on Pinterest these days and they’ve become more of a trend than a way to save money on your wedding details. Despite all this, DIY can easily become stressful and it’s important to keep a few things in mind when taking on a project for your special day. Here are some of our do’s and don’t's for wedding day DIY.

- DO inject your fiancé and your personalities into your DIY projects. Making your own wedding decor is an opportunity to really allow your unique love story to shine. You’ll end up with something truly one of a kind that everyone will always remember because of how well it reflected the two of you!

- DON’T bite off more than you can chew. Too many DIY projects can lead to more stress than they are worth – especially if you are still busy with work, kids, or other wedding prep. Make sure that anything you take on is do-able and not overambitious.

- DO check out bridal blogs and sites like Lover.ly or Pinterest for lots of DIY inspiration. I especially love the tutorials on Hey Gorgeous – they’re full of step by step images and really fun, unique ideas.

-DON’T forget to have a back up plan. If something doesn’t work out, it’s important to have a Plan B so you aren’t left with any missing details.

-DO know when to trust the professionals. If you know nothing about graphic design or stationary, you may want to leave designing your invites to someone with the experience necessary to create a gorgeous product. Sometimes it makes more sense to spend a bit more money and save yourself the stress of worrying if the end product will come out the way you want it to.

Did you DIY for your wedding or are you planning to do so? Share your favorite DIY projects or stories on our Facebook page!

Fashion Fever: Wardrobe for Wedding Season!

Fashion Fever by Alyssa Aiola

As Summer is fast approaching and wedding season is in full swing, it is crucial to have the perfect wedding attire all ready in your closet.  And whether you’re on the guest list for beachside, backyard or black tie ceremonies this summer, you’re likely wondering exactly what you should wear to those nuptials. I mean lets face it, just because it isn’t your big day doesn’t mean you cant look glamorous too! Dressing for a Summer wedding allows for a lot more fun, especially if it is an afternoon wedding!! Lets also keep in mind that just because it is a Summer wedding doesn’t mean you can show up in t-shirts and shorts by any means, even if it is a backyard wedding.  Also if you find that you have way to many weddings to attend over the next 3 months you could save some money by renting a dress! Rent the Runway has an incredible selection of designer dresses to choose from at any length for any type of occasion!  Here are a few simple do’s and don’ts when picking out the perfect wedding attire for a Summer wedding as well as a few great wardrobe picks:

From left to right clockwise; Cache, Badgley Mischka from Rent The Runway, J Crew, J Crew, Allison Paris from Rent The Runway, Express, Express, J Crew

Do’s

• Dress for time and place: Afternoon ceremonies tend to be more casual than evening soirees, so first take into account what time the event is taking place. At noon, it’s perfectly appropriate to wear a summer sundress or pastel skirt, while at six, it’s more fitting to wear a satin or chiffon cocktail dress. Many weddings nowadays call for a wardrobe change between a low-key ceremony and fancy reception. Determine how much to dress up or down according to the time and venue of the event.
• Color: The best way to show up to a Summer celebration is in color, especially if the affair is in the afternoon. We love Summer colors like turquoise, melon, strawberry and Kelly green. We recommend both J Crew and Express this season for the perfect colored gown. We even love the idea of a pastel colored floor length gown for a black tie affair, be bold!
• Floral: Wear a floral print if the wedding is taking place in either a backyard or a garden! Be careful with what shoes you select, you don’t want your heels digging into the grass!
• Length: With temperatures scorching we understand why the hemline might come up a little bit more then normal. Make sure your dress is always tasteful and not to short, knee length is perfect!
• LBD: Every girl needs her safety line in the back of the closet. Make sure you ALWAYS have a little black dress on hand since you never know when you might need it. Even though we love the idea of wearing color to a Summer wedding, you really cant go wrong with a black dress, especially at night.

Don’t:

• White: No matter what time of year it is, but more so in the Summer, never wear white! Unless the bride requests her guests to wear white, you definitely do not want to be that girl that everyone is talking about!
• Black: If you are going to an afternoon wedding, don’t wear black. This means it is a lot less formal and thi could be the perfect time to throw in some color.
• Short: Whether we are talking about wearing shorts you would go golfing in or the actual length of your dress being too short, their both unacceptable attire!
• Neckline: You don’t want to get your clubbing attire mixed up with your wedding attire. Avoid plunging and low cut necklines, you can wear them the next weekend when you are going out.

Now that you have an idea of exactly should be in your closet for Wedding Season all you need to do is play up your accessories and shoes! This could be the best part, especially with jewelry because it can give you that little extra pop of color. Share with us your favorite picks to wear this wedding season by writing on our Facebook page, replying to this post or tweeting us!!

It’s All in the Details: Outdoor Celebrations

It’s All in the Details by Corine Brosseau

With Spring here and Summer on the way, the number of outdoor weddings will be creeping up as well. There are so many beautiful options for an outdoor celebration with something to suit every bride’s budget and style. Here are some of our favorites!

1. Farm Weddings – For the rustic chic look, barns and farms make the perfect backdrop. With rollicking fields and stunning natural landscapes, these are lovely scenes for your wedding day photography. The collage above features Tyrone Farm’s Chestnut Barn, located in Pomfret, Connecticut. Featuring elegant gardens, a stone terrace, and, of course, the gorgeous barn, there a number of options for a unique ceremony and reception on your wedding day at Tyrone Farm. It’s a truly special venue for the countryside bride.

2. Beach Weddings – The beach makes a wonderful location for the couple who loves sand and surf. Offering a breezy, laid back feel, sandy beaches are perfect for the destination wedding or for the domestic one, giving guests a feeling of being on vacation for the day. Additionally, the beach makes the perfect blank canvas for your reception, giving you complete freedom to dress it however you like.

3. Garden Weddings – For a sophisticated celebration, gardens can make a stunning venue selection. If you love flowers, this is the best spot for you. Gorgeous colors and blooms add character to your celebration and provide inspiration for all of the little details.

4. Backyard Weddings – If you’ve got the right backyard, this can be the best option for the bride on a budget. You can save on the venue and put a little more into the details. A backyard celebration can be the the most comfortable and they can also be filled with the most love. For the family who is incredibly tight knit, these parties can be so raucous and fun, while truly reflecting the joy of the couple and their loved ones.

5. More fun options: For a wooded feel, try checking out state parks or national forests in your area to see if they’d allow you to have a wedding there. If you love horses, the racetrack can also be a lovely choice.

Did you or are you having an outdoor wedding? Share with us on our Facebook or in a comment below!!

Manic Monday: Choosing a Photographer

Manic Monday By Alyssa Aiola

You spend months and maybe even over a year planning your wedding and then within 6-8 hours it is all gone with nothing left to remember it by other then your wedding photographs.  We understand that your photographer could be the most important person you are spending your money on since wedding photographs are cherished keepsakes that are passed down through generations. This passed weekend we attended Bridal Rebellion (a bridal workshop full of vendors and industry related business’s)  where The Lovely Lens lent the audience an interesting point of view on photographers by stating ” Their is no such thing as a wedding photographer, their is only good and bad photography.” This statement really had us thinking and is totally true, you either know how to work with light and your camera or you don’t.  In order to find the right photographer to capture all of the you weddings finest moments we have created a list of key questions you should be asking so you avoid any type of stress or worry or even legal matters.

1. Research: Ask your friends, inquire at bridal shops and with the management of the ceremony and reception sites you have chosen. Also browse bridal websites for information and links to photographers that work in your area.(www.weddingwire.com)
2. Style : In order to receive the exact style of photos that you have in mind you must go though a photographers look book and see their work. Are you looking for more of a traditional style with posed pictures or more candid shots throughout the day, or maybe even more lighthearted and playful shots. You have to see the photographers past work to see if they can match your vision.
3. Examine the Photos: When looking through any photographers look books you must keep in mind and examine the basics of the pictures-such as color, clarity, exposure, graininess and composition. Pay attention to the photographer’s ability to capture the emotion of the day. Does it appear that he has the personality to make his subjects comfortable and happy? Or is she the type of photographer that seemingly takes pictures without much passion.
4. Professionalism: On your wedding day it is important that you feel confident in your photographer in knowing they have done this a lot in the past and have a solid background. Not only should you ask how long have they been a photographer but also how many weddings have they shot. Also ask if they have ever had a wedding at your venue, maybe they are firmiliar with the lighting and space.
5. Budget: Photographer fees, prints, albums, etc. generally come to approximately 12% of the entire wedding budget. This will allow you to quickly discard candidates which you cannot afford.
6. Contract: While you want to make sure you book your photographer for the date of your wedding immediately, make sure you read over the legal details of exactly what you will get before signing the contract. Make sure you are signing for the exact package of photos as well as service you discussed. * Make sure the amount of hours they will be at the wedding/ceremony is written in the contract*
7. Equipment: Although you may not be a professional photographer yourself, you should know what type of camera and equipment your photographer will be using during your event. You may find that you are more particular about it than you think.
8. Package: Create  a custom package with your photographer with every detail in writing. Maybe you only want your photographer to be present for 1-3 hours during the reception or you might want a package that  may include a pre-wedding engagement sessions, rehearsal dinner photographs, bridal portraits and newlywed photos.
9. Quantity of Images: This is another aspect that for liability reasons you should get in writing. Some photographers may provide you with under 100 images to remember your wedding day by. Higher-end photographers often capture thousands of images (generally from 1,000 to 3,000) for you to keep forever.

We hope this list helps you find the perfect photographer for your wedding day and look forward to hearing your feedback! Tell us about your wedding photography experience by either replying to this post, writing on our Facebook wall or tweeting us!!

Fashion Fever: Blooming Boutonnieres

Fashion Fever by Corine Brosseau

With Spring in the air and daffodils peeking out in everyone’s gardens, I just can’t help but have flowers on the brain!! However, these lovely blooms aren’t just for the bride. The perfect boutonnieres for the groom and his ushers can really tie together a lovely Spring or Summer wedding ensemble.

In the collage above, you’ll see some of our favorite boutonnière trends of late. A lot of the looks really do echo current wedding and bridal trends and can thus be the icing on the cake for your event.

As we all know, mint has been one of Spring’s hottest colors. Though at first you may think there’s no way to incorporate it into your guy’s look, using succulents in the boutonnière is really a great way to achieve this. Succulents are growing in popularity and have a masculine edge for the groom who doesn’t want to don a flower.

Daisies, peonies, and brightly colored roses are more feminine favorites for the warmer seasons. However, when paired with lavender, berries, or astilbe, they better serve the masculine aesthetic and make a great boutonnière option.

If your groom really doesn’t want a flower, try a mix of feathers or maybe even a paper bloom. To make the look even more personal, write him a letter and have it folded into his boutonnière. After the wedding, he can take it apart and read it. It’s a keepsake that looks awesome and lasts forever!!

What are your favorite boutonnière ideas for Spring and Summer?