How amazing and perfectly romantic are these dresses? Just in time for Valentine's Day.
Speaking of romance and all the fantasy that surrounds Valentine's Day, we are so excited for a style shoot we've been working on for the loveliest holiday of the year. Stay tuned!
{Photos}
Elie Saab Runway Inspiration via This is Glamorous. See more of the collection here and here.
Elie Saab | Paris
Intern Fancy | Inspired By Tuscany
This week Annie is completely inspired by all things Tuscany...Simple, sophisticated, and earthy:
Makes us want warm weather! Are you newly engaged? What are you inspired by right now? Let us know in the comments!
Note: Intern Fancy is a new weekly series presented by our interns. They feature anything and everything they're inspired by at this moment.
{Photos}:
Row 1: Style Me Pretty; Tuscan Urn via Wedding By Color; Mango Calla Lilies via You're The Bride;
Row 2: Invitations via Paisley Quill; Bride and Groom and table setting via Your Way To Tuscany
~ Happy Planning!
FAQ: Spacing Issues + Guests
When this blog first started, there were a lot of tips and advice on weddings. While the blog now leans more toward design and the occasional random musing on my part, I still receive many questions on a daily basis. So, I decided to bring back the tips and advice every now and then, even though the majority of the wedding articles will start residing in our newsletter. But more on that later!
Many of the questions you'll see and have seen here are those from real brides and real clients, and are often results of real parties we've either witnessed or been a part of. So, without further adieu...
Q: My guest list has grown exponentially, yet our reception space is limited to a certain sized tent. What are some ways to make it work with dinner, buffet, cake, and bar?
Soiree: My answer is to break the space up in a way that creates a natural flow, yet keeps things as intimate as possible. For starters, keep only dinner tables and the cake under the tent. Then look at other options for the other items. Here are my suggestions:
* For large guest lists, always make sure the bar is easily accessible and is conducive to receiving drink-in-hand status as fast as possible. Try having two or three bars in separate areas (either under their own tents, or just near your reception tent), all stocked with the same types of alcohol. Or, have one larger bar with several bartenders. The minimum is 1 bartender per 35 people.
* Avoid lines like the plague. If you'll be having a buffet dinner, do whatever you can to reduce the amount of time your guests spend in line waiting for their food. Consider an entirely different tent (connected to your reception tent or separate- just make sure it's not too far away) for your food tables, or even tapas stations in various areas of your reception space.
* Create intimate areas for chatting. Everyone loves a good dance party, but at a wedding especially, people love to talk and catch up. Create spaces that are conducive for this: small bistro tables that seat 2-4 people, bench + bistro combos that would accommodate up to 5 or so people, etc. I like to keep these areas as close to bar(s) as possible, making it easy to get a beverage and then sit and observe the party.
The fact of the matter is, even if you have separate "spaces" created for your party, as long as none of them are in an area too far away from another, you'll have actually created a more dynamic environment than if you'd stuffed everything under a too-small tent. I find it also adds to the excitement and the anticipation of what-happens-next. Your guests will love it!
Have a question you need answered? Planning a wedding or hosting a party? Ask away and we'll answer it here. Send your questions to blog@weddingsbysoiree.com
~Happy Tuesday!
Introducing....
We are thrilled to introduce the newest member of our team, Stephanie. She is one of our 2011 interns, and you're sure to see her pretty face at our Boise and McCall weddings this summer. And since it is a new year, we are all actually going to be introducing ourselves via the blog in a short mini series, so to start things off, I asked Stephanie to share with you a little about herself:
Soiree: What designers are you inspired by at the moment, bridal or otherwise?
Stephanie: Some of my favorite designers include Donna Karan, Kathy van Zeeland, Kate Spade, Vera Wang, and Badgley Mischka. I am attracted to these designers because they are feminine, slightly funky, and whimsical. Their pieces exude an effortless elegance and never look stuffy or uncomfortable. I am always inspired by Anthropologie's eclectic design and also love J.Crew's classic look.
Soiree: How about some trends you're loving right now?
Stephanie: My favorite bridal trend right now is big funky headpieces. I am loving everything from bows to flowers to feathers. I have always been a huge fan of the bird cage veil and love how the style is being modernized and made to fit each bride's personality. Another bridal trend I enjoy is that men in the bridal party are getting more creative with their look. I love the fitted suits, skinny ties, suspenders, funky shoes, and creative boutonnieres. Even though most men aren't as interested in all the wedding details it is nice to see a little of their personality included in the big day.
Soiree: Finally, tell us a little about yourself in a few sentences?
Stephanie: I love vintage inspired clothing and sometimes wish I could be transported to the 40's and wear pencil skirts, pumps, and red lipstick everyday. I enjoy all types of design, have an obsession with pretty notebooks, spend way too much time looking at blogs, love wearing yellow, and can often be found in the kitchen whipping up some kind of baked good:)
Well we're excited for the times to come...and I feel your pain when it comes to spending entire days reading blogs. I don't however, share your love of baking...I once left out five ingredients in a cheesecake! I'll stick to cooking and we'll let you do the baking- we're happy to have you on board!
~Happy Monday!
{Photos}
Row 1: Ruched Sleeve Dress by Donna Karan; The Lucy by Badgley Mischka Bride;
Row 2: Grace Contemporary Bridal Hairpiece by Jannie Baltzer; Didi shoe by Kade Spade
When Bows Look Good
My personal style tends to lean towards classically feminine: I like solid colors, clean lines, and the occasional fabric flower or two is a welcomed addition. I've also started fancying a few ultra-girly touches, like pearls and classic gold. But bows? You'll find nary a bow in my closet, unless it's the product of me tying a bow on the back of a blouse. Same goes for bridal gowns- give me ruffles, florals, swirls, embellishments and appliques, but it's not often I adore bows on designs. Until now, bows have always been a take it or leave it thing. Like I said, until now.
Why oh why have I not heard of Nelle Handbags until now? In their own words, they're bowtiful...and ribbon and bows adorn all pieces of the collection. But how stylish are these bows? These clutches will take you from the office to the town, and your bridesmaids would love you even more if you gifted them with these instead of a paperweight.
And speaking of your bridal party, if you're looking for a sash to add some pizazz to their dresses, these Flora Sashes will do the trick.
Sigh...I heart bows. Did I just include heart? I did.
View the whole collection of day and evening clutches, handbags, belts, and wallets here. And thanks to 100 Layer Cake for directing our attention to Nelle!
~Happy Thursday!!
Wedding Wednesday | Midsummer's Night Dream
This is another board I recently designed for a client as an idea for color options and theme. Soft peaches, bold teal, and calming greens are the focus for this summer wedding. We love working with succulents, and thought they made a cool addition to the slight fairytale feel of this board. Mossy centerpieces, grass accents, flowing dresses and textural yet soft elements would all combine to create a magical, romantic summer evening under the stars.
What do you think about this board? Leave us a comment below!
{Photos}: Row 1: Silver Mint Julep Cups; Outdoor Tablescape; Bridesmaids in Blue;
Row 2: Escort Cards in Grass; Succulent Centerpiece; Hanging Succulents; Moss Centerpiece
~ Happy Planning!
Inspiring Photo No. 12
Dancers by Janet Hill Studio, via La Dolce Vita
Why? Because who's not inspired by gorgeous shoes? Demure and feminine. Always classy.
~Happy Monday!
Stella + Dot | Spring 2011
One word: Love.
Frolicking on white sand beaches in Miami or Cabo? Yes please.
Simple white tee and jeans? Lovely.
Channeling Audrey Hepburn? Always classic.
In a nutshell: I'm loving the new spring collection from Stella & Dot. Dress it up or dress it down; play in the sun or go to work. Check out their entire collection of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets and also find out about new trunk shows and events here.
~Happy Friday!
Wedding Wednesday | A Peacock Inspired Wedding
This is an inspiration board I just completed for one of our August brides. She came to us a few months ago, with one inspiration: the Peacock. Oh and some gorgeous emerald bridesmaids dresses she spotted in a magazine. That green was the starting inspiration- it's bright, fun, and summery. So we took that color, pulled some other jewel tones out of the peacock wreath, and added a neutral linen color to keep everything light. We had their design meeting last night, and I can't wait until their summer Boise Depot wedding! We'll be incorporating lots of textures- glass, wood, sheer fabrics, shell, and more.
What do you guys think? We would love it if you'd leave us a comment and let us know what you like about this board!
{Photos}: White Centerpiece via Inspired By This; Capiz Shells; Crystal Escort Card via Yvonne Design; Peacock Wreath, via Kelley Moore; Coconut Cupcake via Ritzy Bee; Emerald Ring via Honey We're Home
~Happy Planning!
CSN Stores Giveaway At Inspired Designer
We love giveaways, and Kristin with Inspired Designer is hosting another fabulous one good for a $35 gift certificate to CSN Stores. Have you visited the online super site yet? The amount of things like home goods, furniture, lighting, and bedding is almost mind-boggling.
A few of Kristin's picks via Inspired Designer
The contest rules are simple- just leave a comment on Kristin's blog mentioning the item you'd like to have- and then have even more entries via twitter, blogging, and more. Read all the details about the contest here. Good luck!
DIY Chalkboard Coasters
I came across these little ditties while getting sucked in to one of my many "do-nothing-but-read-blogs-all-day" Sundays. Thought they'd make great gifts, favors, or even a nice addition to your newlywed table.
Via A Thoughtful Place
And the tutorial is easy- another plus. See the step-by-step, along with pictures, here.
~Happy Planning!
Week In Review- Notable Links
Can't believe the first week of 2011 is almost over. Did anyone else blink and it vanished? Well, as far as we could tell the new year brought with it a lot of fabulousness (and yes, that is a word, folks). We've rounded up a few notables that we wanted to make sure you knew about. In the meantime have a happy weekend, and stop back by next week for lots of goodness.
* Jennifer Gillespie recently posted a divine interview with the Prince of Events, Colin Cowie. We only wish it would have been via audio so we could ooodle over his accent.
* The Aisle NY, the first online luxury bridal marketplace of its kind, officially launched on Monday. You can see our original post about the membership-based site here.
We loved this no-sugar-added ebook -from Shayna Walker of Williamsburg Wedding Design- all about why wedding planners cost what they do. Really educational, if we do say so ourselves.
Preownedweddingdresses.com, the site for buying and selling new, used, and sample designer gowns, launched the contest of the year- a chance to win a gown valued up to $2k.
Did you find anything this week you swooned over? Do share in the comments!
~Happy Planning!
Style Me Pretty Launches An EZine
Happy Wednesday! Today we are all over a new online magazine just launched yesterday, by none other than the editors at Style Me Pretty. The first volume of the E-Glossy features the best of 2010- favorite highlights, memorable real weddings, and all the inspiration and jaw-dropping goodness we've come to expect from SMP.
Congrats to Abby and all the Style Me Pretty staffers for a beautiful glossy! Read more about the unveiling of the magazine here, and peruse all the prettiness here.
~Happy Planning!
Designer Wedding Dress Giveaway
Welcome to 2011 lovelies! You know the year is starting off right when the chance to win a designer wedding gown comes up! All month long Preownedweddingdresses.com is hosting the giveaway of the year- one lucky winner will receive a free designer wedding gown valued up to $2000.
The best part? The winner gets to select her dress of choice- if the value is up to $2k, it's yours gratis. And if you fall in love with a gown that happens to be a little more than that, then preownedweddingdresses.com will deduct up to $2k from your total. It's as easy as that!
The contest runs from January 1st until January 31st. Entries can be made with the online entry form, as well as bonus entries on Facebook. You can check out the full contest details and peruse the designer dress collection here.
And a little background on the site from the owner, Josie (which, in our opinion is a genius idea):
PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com currently has more than 6400 new, sample and used gowns for sale from over 150 different designers. And we have a ton of search features like by designer, size, price, silhouette - even by local zip code.
So don't delay- if you're in the market for a stunning, designer wedding dress, this is the contest for you! Good luck and happy planning!
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