Royal Wedding Recap | Our Favorites

Yes lovelies, I was one of those that set my alarm for 3:50a; I wanted to catch the moment she stepped out of the car at the ceremony site, and I didn't want to miss an ounce of the ceremony itself.

There were so many aspects of the wedding that I swooned over, and many that were so simplistic yet perfect, it gave me chills. Here are my favorite aspects of the Royal Wedding:

Driving Up In Style



I loved the car the family chose to transport Kate Middleton to the Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. It was designed with a see-through roof, allowing all of her excited fans to see her on the way.

The Dress

I read on Twitter someone saying "Diana and Alexander McQueen are high-fiving in heaven", and I have to believe it's true. But first, let me back up. Maybe it was because there was so much hype about her gown that I was a wee bit disappointed when she first stepped out of the car. But as she continued to walk in that gorgeous barely-there veil, sparkling tiara, and petite bridal bouquet, the dress began to win me over. The bodice of the Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown was literally painted on her- showing off her petite stature. The rest of the dress was just perfect with the amount of fabric and layers, and the entire dress design leaned toward classic with a modern touch. She really was a modern-day Grace Kelly, and I don't think there would be a dress more perfectly suited for the new Dutchess of Cambridge.  Something we can say that will come out of this- I think we'll be seeing many more lace-sleeve designs emerging in the near future.

Prince William & Prince Harry

If you were watching as Kate approached her husband-to-be, Harry turned around to sneak a peek, then turned to Will to say "Just wait until you see her". How sweet?

Then comedian Will came out with his remark of "We were supposed to have a small family affair" to Kate and his Father-In-Law. This came, of course, right after the Prince whispered to his bride, "You look beautiful". Even sweeter.

The HATS



Need I say more? Almost makes me want to be a Brit. The hats are so festive and amazing.


What were your favorite aspects of the Royal Wedding 2011? Decor? Music?

Press: Soiree Featured On Style Me Pretty

Hello, April 11th, we have been waiting for you. I am happy to say today is the day our Chanel inspired style shoot is featured on Style Me Pretty! In fact, remember when we told you to stay tuned on our Facebook page? This is what we were talking about. So many local, talented vendors worked together to bring it all together. Here are a few snippets from the shoot, taken by the lovely Tana of Tana Photography:







A special thanks to all of the Boise vendors involved:

Design & Planning: Soiree
Photography: Tana Photography
Flowers: Boise At Its Best
Stationery & Invitations: Ampersand Studios
Cakes: Greg Marsh Designer Cakes
Dress: Chic Bridal Boutique
Chocolates: The Chocolat Bar
Venue: Miss Tami's Tea Room & Cottage, Meridian Id

We don't want to ruin it all here- be sure to head over to Style Me Pretty to peek at the style shoot in it's entirety. Then, check back in on Wednesday when we go into detail of bringing it all to life, along with a tutorial of how to make the fabric toss cones seen on the chairs.

Enjoy & happy Monday!

Good Things Coming..

Hi lovelies,

I'm just popping in to tell you to stay tuned and check back a little later this afternoon- we have some big news in store!

See you soon...

~Brandi

Four Key Steps To An Amazing After Party

First, we'll start with a disclaimer. I know you've probably already seen these photos, several times even, as they are so amazing it's hard not to go back and look two or three times. This Aspen After Party is the epitome of how it should be done so it is a definite continuation of your big day:



Step 1: Shake up the dress! Whether you're coming straight from your traditional nuptials and reception for a late night soiree, or just celebrating a few weeks after being married off on a white sand beach, a party dress is required.

Step 2: Do make the decor different than your wedding. An after party should still be in your esthetic style, of course, but you'll want to make it distinctly different than your wedding reception. This brings a new energy back into the event (especially if it's that late night soiree), and everyone loves a surprise. This party is also an awesome way to incorporate even more personal touches that may not have made the cut for the wedding.



Step 3: Make it a party atmosphere with lighting, different snack foods (think out of the ordinary: a dessert shoppe like this one, or hamburgers and french fries, etc.). Don't forget the music and remember that a party like this will last at least 2 hours so make sure there are enough beverages available too.



Step 4: While this style of party is meant to be more relaxed and less rigid than a wedding reception, don't forget that you're still hosting many guests. There will still be many vendors on hand to bring it together, and most likely a timeline to follow since most after parties are in the wee hours and therefore short on time. Hiring a planner or appointing someone that will be responsible will help make the evening smooth for you so you can actually enjoy your amazing party!

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from this amazingly beautiful after party on Style Me Pretty today!

Sneek Peeks | Bridal Markety Runway Fashion

It's Bridal Market this week, and the tweets, blog posts, and pictures are already swarming the internet. We came across these sketches as part of a Brides.com sneek peek feature for collections and gown designs to come:

Badgley Mischka with a fitted bodice and full floral trumpet skirt:



Jim Hjelm with a ruched, fitted bodice and also a full trumpet skirt:



Kevan Hall with accordian-style pleats on the bodice:



And Priscilla with a slightly different-than-the-norm look:



We're still seeing the trend of floral, ethereal, and full styles for the coming year. I can't wait to see all of these designs come to life. Are you still looking for your dress? Just purchased? What's your favorite style trend? Do share!

{All photos via Brides.com}

~Happy Wednesday!

Looking Ahead

Hi lovelies,

Just a quick note to tell you about a new blogging schedule for the summer, possibly longer. In an effort for some life balance all while still trying to "do it all", I've decided that the posts will be much more relevant and exciting if I reduce the schedule down to three days. From now on, please join me here on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Me and the Soiree girls are so excited about our crazy summer ahead of us, but there does have to be a little give and take sometimes. As always, thank you so much for your readership, comments, and emails; Everything really means a lot to me.

Here's to a fabulous Tuesday!

xx,

Brandi

Inspiring Photo No. 16

April showers bring May flowers...


Photo via Elizabeth Anne Designs

And this wedding, featuring an impromptu storm, just goes to show that even wedding day Wellies can be stylish.

Here's to Spring, and here's to a fabulous Monday!