Affordable & Luxurious: White by Vera Wang

I absolutely love the new line, White by Vera Wang, which debuts today at David's Bridal. All of the dresses are gorgeous, and are anywhere between $600-$1400. The amount of detail is incredible for such affordable prices! The one thing that it makes me curious about though is for all of the brides who purchased gowns from the Vera Wang bridal collection (not from David's Bridal), and whether they are upset that there is this new line of MUCH cheaper gowns that also have the Vera Wang name. Would you be upset?

Either way, I still love this line, and I think it's wonderful that more brides will have access to great wedding gown designs because the price falls within their budget.

Photos from David's Bridal
Aren't they gorgeous? I especially love the strapless organza dress with hand cut-bias flange skirt in blush, and it also comes in ivory and soft white!

~Emilie

Katie and Doug's Wedding at the State Room

On Friday, October 15th, I was the day-of coordinator for Katie and Doug’s wedding. The day started out in a lovely two room suite at the Langham Hotel, with one room for hair stylist Michelle Arruda DeVoe of Demiche Beauty and her assistant, and the other room with makeup artist Katrina Hess and her assistant.

Six bridesmaids wore satin purple Jim Hjelm dresses and carried light green bouquets. The bride wore an elegant cathedral length veil and a bouquet from Winston Flowers made of white calla lilies and wrapped in ivory satin ribbon. Oh, and the dress… wait, let’s try it again. ohhh, and the most fabulous dress EVER. That morning, I walked into the suite and the after saying hello to everyone, it was like my feet couldn’t stop walking towards the corner of the room where the dress was hanging. I kind of wanted to just hug it, it was so pretty. The Kenneth Pool ivory strapless dress was made of royal duchess satin with a chic crumb-catcher neckline and perfectly placed crystal beading in both the front and the back.

Everything was going really smoothly in the morning, and it was about to get better. Let me explain in three words: Lisa Rigby Photography. Simply put, Lisa is one of my favorite photographers ever, and I was so excited to work with her. Lisa came by the bridal suite with second shooter, Li Ward, of Fat Orange Cat Studio and started her photo magic. After getting shots of the both the groomsmen and bridesmaids getting ready, the Katie and Doug met up for a first look and then took a trolley over to the Boston Public Gardens with the entire bridal party and parents for portraits. This is one of Lisa's teaser photos taken at the gardens.

Photo by Lisa Rigby Photography
Three trolleys took guests from the Hilton and Langham Hotel in downtown Boston to St. Mary's Parish in Charlestown for the ceremony. The front steps of the church were decorated with lanterns and white carved pumpkins with the couple's names and Doug's last name initial, L. Two floral wreaths were hung on the front doors, and little bunches of hydrangea and glass tealight holders were tied to each pew along the aisle. After a full Catholic mass, guests then took trolleys over to the State Room for the reception, and the newlyweds rode in a white 1939 antique Cadillac limousine.

Upon arriving at the State Room, guests were greeted with two wishing trees made of white manzanita branches and white orchids created by John LaRoche of blueGuava. Family photos were scattered throughout the branches, and wishes were hung alongside the photos. Cocktail hour was held in the upper level of the Great Room, and before joining guests, the bride switched out her cathedral length veil for a stunning crystal headpiece designed by Maria Elena.

For the reception in the lower level of the Great Room, the tables were covered in bengaline shell linens, with centerpieces created by Custom Floral Design by Karen Street made of hydrangea, calla lilies, and orchids surrounded by candles. The sweetheart table was covered by a damask linen and topped with lots of pillar candles in varying sizes. A small table on the bride's side of the sweetheart table held a photo of Katie as a baby and her late father, along with an arrangement of irises, which were her father's favorite. Pin spot lighting on each table and amber colored uplighting on the walls by High Output added even more drama to an already spectacular room with amazing views of Boston.

The bridal party entered the reception in pairs, and the newlyweds were introduced to the song "Won't Stop" by One Republic (thanks to Katie, this song has been my favorite for the past month!). The song continued on as they went directly into their first dance, and afterwards, guests enjoyed a four course dinner of an endive salad, lemon-thyme sorbet intermezzo, entree choices of braised short ribs, roasted chicken, or balsamic glazed salmon, and a variety of desserts. The four tiered wedding cake from I Dream of Jeanne was decorated with fresh white tulips and a silver monogram topper. The cake was served next to an elaborate dessert bar, which included treats like mini caramel apples, apple walnut crisp, mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches, and apple crème brule.

The band, Men In Black, was amazing and really got the crowd dancing even before the salad course was served. Later on in the night, the uplighting changed to purple, and the dancing continued on until the very end of the evening. On the way out, guests picked up a bag of chocolate pecan turtles from Mrs. Nelson's Candy House as favors. Photos from Lisa Rigby will be coming later, but for now, here are some that I took!

It was a really beautiful wedding, and the staff at the State Room and all of the vendors were really nice to work with. Katie and Doug, thank you so much for allowing me to take part in your special day, and I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii!!

~Emilie

Some of our favorite wedding dresses for 2010!

Last year, Fiona and I posted some of our favorite wedding dresses. Now, with the 2010 season, there are new designs, styles, and trends, so we have a new batch of dresses to share with you! But first, if you are in the hunt for your perfect gown, here are a few tips:

1) Look online to see what styles grab your attention and save the photos, along with the designer and style name/number. The last thing you want to do is have a photo of your dream gown, but you forget where you found it! The Knot and FashionBride are two of our favorite places to search for wedding gowns.

2) When working with a bridal gown consultant, ask to try on different styles and see what your consultant would recommend for you. Many times, the dress that you would not have picked out yourself, could really surprise you and end up being your perfect dress.

3) LOVE your dress. You should feel beautiful, and feel like a bride. Try to visit at least a couple of salons before deciding that a dress is "the one". Keep in mind that almost all gowns will need alterations to fit your body, so just because one is the perfect size already, it doesn't make it the right one.

4) After you buy your wedding gown, just remember: you love it, you can't wait to wear it at your wedding, and that's it. Do not keep looking for gowns, and avoid searching for gowns online or in magazines. Otherwise, there is a good chance that you'll be a two dress bride. There will almost always be a gown where you say "oh nooo.. I looove this dress!! I think it might be better than the one I got!!" So, you can avoid this situation by ending your dress search as soon as you buy your dress.

Now that you have some tips, here are some of our favorite gowns for the 2010 wedding season!

Fiona's Favorites:

Melissa Sweet - Cosimma
The ruched bodice is always a popular choice for brides, but the asymmetrical skirt of this dress along with the petal detail makes this gown stand out.
Photo from theknot

Badgley Mischka Bride - Bebe
LOVE the back of this dress. The halter neckline is a good option for those who want more coverage in the front.
Photo from Badgley Mischka Bride

Monique Lhuillier - Fabiana
I have to include one lace dress on my list - Monique Lhuillier makes gorgeous ones and it took me a while to pick a favorite.
Photo from theknot

Dessy Destination Bridal Gown - Style #1026
This one-shoulder beauty is great for someone looking for a dress that is comfortable and stylish at the same time!
Photo from Dessy

Anjolique - Style #2122
This dress is perfect if you are planning a formal and elegant event.
Photo from Anjolique

Emilie's Favorites:

Monique Lhuillier - Schiaparelli
This v-neck dress is absolutely stunning, and made my heart beat faster when I first saw it. The hand tufted skirt and embroidered floral details make this dress perfect for a modern and elegant wedding.
Photo from Monique Lhuillier

Watters - Austin
This gown in silk organza has a delicate belt and flower detail at the waist. I love how the fabric in the skirt looks so light and airy.
Photo from Watters

Two by Rosa Clará - Caspe
Mmm... ruffles, ruffles, and more ruffles. This gorgeous gown shows off your figure, with a modern flair .
Photo from FashionBride

Christos by Amsale - Poeme
This silk satin-faced organza gown has little scattered flower petals hidden around the draping of the skirt, that make the dress look like a piece of art.
Photo from Christos Bridal

Rose & Ruby - Empire Rose
Gorgeous!! This silk chiffon gown would be great for a wedding on the beach.
Photo from Rose & Ruby

We hope you've enjoyed our picks for dresses! Do you have a favorite in this list?

~Emilie & Fiona

J.Crew Wedding Collection at the Atrium Mall

Here's some exciting news for Boston area brides. The J.Crew in the Atrium Mall now has the Weddings and Parties Collection so you can try on their gorgeous gowns in person! Many of their bridal gowns are simple and elegant, and their classic styles of bridesmaids dresses come in a wide variety of colors and fabrics.

If you'd like to stop by, make a complimentary appointment with Joan, their in-store wedding specialist. She can help you find your gown and dress your bridal party. Set up your appointment by calling Joan at 617-332-0122. The Atrium Mall is located at 300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA.

photos from J.Crew

There are even some beautiful dresses on sale that are as low as $49.99! Good luck with your dress search, and we'd love to hear back from you about your experience there!

~Emilie

Some of our favorite wedding dresses!

One of the best parts about being a bride is trying on wedding dresses! Bridal consultants, your mom, your bridesmaids, and anyone else you can imagine, can help you in your process of finding the perfect dress. Whether you want a ball gown, a trumpet skirt, a beaded bodice, lace, tulle, or satin, that special dress is out there waiting for you. Take a look at different magazines and websites to see what types of styles there are, and save the dresses that you like so you can refer to them later. Theknot.com is a great resource for all gown designers, and FashionBride is a fabulous resource for all high end and couture designer gowns.

To start you off with a variety of ideas, here are some dresses that we love.

Fiona's favorites:

Priscilla of Boston - Style 4307
Love the lace and the dramatic sparkles at the top!

Photo from brides.com

Melissa Sweet - Sidney

Beautiful, daring neckline and it seemingly floats as you walk.

Photo from theknot

Kenneth Pool - Splendor

A dramatic dress that really makes a statement with its unique bodice and beaded tulle overlay.

Photo from Kenneth Pool

Kenneth Pool - Brilliance

Lovely flow to the goddess-like dress... the jeweled halter is amazing!

Photo from Kenneth Pool

Jim Hjelm - Style jh8862

This gown shows off your body, and if you look closely, the detail on the train is really nice.

Photo from theknot

Emilie's Favorites:

Sarah Arnett - Audrey
Such a full skirt, with a classic shape that is simple and elegant
Photo from theknot

San Patrick - Pissa
This luxurious gown has multiple layers made up of tulle, satin, and beaded lace.
Photo from FashionBride

Pronovias - Hillary
The delicate details are absolutely stunning, especially with the straps of the dress.
Photo from FashionBride

Manuel Mota - Varsovia
Incredibly modern and romantic, this gown has a beautiful and soft structure.
Photo from FashionBride

Enzoani - Demi

A showstopper dress that is sexy, edgy, and elegant all at the same time.

Photo from theknot

We hope you've enjoyed some of our favorite picks for dresses!! As dresses change with different collections and seasons, we'll be sure to update the blog with more dresses later on!

Not the Typical Dress Experience

I’m sure ALL brides say this, but I love my wedding dress. It was quite an experience getting it to be ready for my wedding day.

One of my bridesmaids works as a buyer at the bargain heaven Filene’s Basement. You know where this is going. Yes, Filene’s Basement is most famous for having an annual “Running of the Brides” sale where thousands of designer dresses are put on sale at a fraction of a cost. The frenzy of the event makes the local news every year. You see people dressed up in team gear sitting on piles of dresses, hoarding them as bargaining chips. Luckily, I did not have to participate in the craziness because my dear friend gave me special admittance to the event the NIGHT before. There were many rules and the biggest obstacle was that the early preview was limited to ONE hour and you can only bring 2 people with you (one of which is the employee). So, I decided to bring my mom along with the bridesmaid.

In the madness of one hour, I estimated that I tried on more than 20 dresses in the couture section, marked at $699 (others were on sale for $499 and $299!). It came down to two dresses in the end. One was a Henry Roth traditional A-line gown that my mom and BM fawned over. It had delicate embroidery at the bust and matching details at the hemline of the long train. The other was a Carmela Sutera silk and lace gown with long chiffon pieces at the back of the dress. It was body hugging and romantic, and the neckline was different from any other dress I tried on that night. I felt a connection with it. The problem was that it was literally 6-8 sizes too big and we only had a vague idea of what it would look like when I had 5 clips down the back of the dress. Obviously, my “team” pushed for the Henry Roth dress, but when the last call came to purchase a dress, I decided to go against the "crowd" favorite and got the Carmela Sutera gown!

I had to get the dress altered 4 times, by two different tailors. The first one did a good job with bringing the gown down to my size, but was not great on the detailed fit. The second tailor worked her magic and made the gown fit perfectly!! She even added in very subtle beading on the lace at the top of the dress. The cost of tailoring ended up close to $500, which pushed the gown total to over $1200 after taxes. I still saved a ton because my gown was actually still featured on theknot.com as a current season dress with $$$$ denoted upon it (which means original cost can be well over $3000!). The end result was better than I imagined it, so in my opinion, my risk of getting a dress at a non-traditional store paid off! The photos below of the dress were taken by Sun Photographics.





~Fiona

If you need a Boston area dress tailor, leave us a comment!