It's All About the Details - Bridal Shower Drinks & Accessories

It's spring time with only a few months left before your big day. What does that mean? It's means bridal showers galore! On average, most brides have at least two bridal showers which means lots of colorful dresses, lunching and presents.

As the star of the show, why not ask the shower host to really help step up the party style with some fun details? After all, wedding celebration style is all about the unique details that should reflect the taste of the bride.

Try a couple of my favorite spring time party details and recipes that are perfect for any bridal shower:

Floral ice cubes 
Floral ice cubes are super simple and require nothing more than an ice tray, water, your favorite small blossoms and some imagination. They make a nice garnish for any cocktail and can really spruce up some soda water. Go crazy on different combination that match any color scheme. I love mint and raspberries, organic Pansies or Spray Roses, thinly sliced Lime or Lemon, and Lavender.

Directions:

1) Cut small, colourful flowers from your garden. Some types you might select are: pansies, violas, wallflowers, lobelia, and miniature roses. For larger flowers, simply use the petals instead of the whole flower. You can also use flowers from fresh herbs. 

2) Fill an ice cube tray half full of water. Place the tray in the freezer until the water freezes. 

3) Remove the tray from the freezer and place one flower or several petals in each of the individual ice cube cups. Top off with enough water to cover the blossoms.

4) Return the flower-filled ice cube trays to the freezer until the cubes are frozen. Remove the cubes from the trays and either store in the freezer in zip lock bags or use in beverages straight away.

Custom Drink Straws with Tags 

These super cute straws not only help determine who's drink is left on the table, but also adds simple style to to any cocktail. Tags can be custom ordered to say anything your heart's desire. 

Find endless options of these great little accessories PLUS more on Esty.com.

Floral Inspired Bridal Shower Cocktails:

Violet Vermouth

Combine 1 ounce Violet Liquor, such as Creme Yyvette and one ounce dry Vermouth. Pour in an ice filled glass and serve with an edible flower.

Raspberry Champagne Cocktail

Pour 1 ounce of Raspberry liquor (Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur) into 6 ounces of Rose Champagne or Sparkling Wine in a flute. Drop a few Raspberries in for garnish. 

Enjoy!

Happy Planning!

Boudoir Pho­tog­ra­phy - The Sexiest Wedding Day Gift Trend, Ever

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Every wedding season many brides get stuck on what to give to their fiance for their wedding day. While the traditional gifts such as custom cuff links or a Rolex watch with a personal engraving never falls short, many brides are discovering an exciting new trend that has their men thanking them well past their 5th wedding anniversary.

Boudoir photography is a sexy new trend that's gaining in popularity right now with many brides. Boudoir photos are usually taken wearing either just a little, or well, nothing at all. They're hardly X-rated though, but rather PG-13 -- as in classic pinup-inspired pics, or what the pros call 'implied nudes.' That means you're not wearing anything, but you're also not showing off anything either (think shot from the back, or lying on your stomach).

Who takes these kinds of photos?
Many wedding photographers are now offering Boudoir shoots as part of their service offerings and can be easily added to your wedding day package. If you love your wedding photographer, but aren't comfortable with taking your clothes off in front of him in such an intimate and private setting, find a woman photographer who offers these types of shoots (I'm sure your wedding day photographer will understand and give you a good referral).

Not sure what to wear? 
Well, you know your man so I'm sure you have an idea of what he likes to see you in. If not, enlist the help of one of your best friends to help with wardrobe selection ... less is more, in this case. Just remember, you have to feel sexy to look sexy so select something that you feel great in and shows off your best assets (no pun intended). 

So, if you've been hitting the gym with Tammy Foxx, the ultimate bridal fitness guru, or have lost weight from a bit of planning stress, why not rock that awesome body and create an amazing album of beautiful shots for your husband-to-be? Believe me, when that album is delivered to him before the ceremony, he'll be so blown away that he'll forget all about how much your custom engagement ring cost. After all, men should never underestimate the power of female sex appeal.

If you are having trouble locating a photographer who you feel comfortable with, please contact me and I'll connect you to the perfect fit.

Check out beautiful examples of Boudoir photographs by Tanja Lippert, one of the best in the business.

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Photo by Tanja Lippert

Soolip Fashion Show Favs by Marina Morrison

Marina Morrison brought it today at Soolip Wedding SF. The dresses were stunning and I loved all the wonderful hair designs.

Lots of great vendors here. If you missed out on the inaugural Soolip SF, definitely come next year.

Here are some of my favorite dresses from the fashion show:





























- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Earth Conscious Celebrating - Garden Kit Wedding Favors

If you're an avid reader of my BLOG, then you know that I am a big advocate of green wedding practices - food, flowers and FAVORS.

I found this great idea of creating beautiful garden growing kits when I was doing research on how to incorporate Olive tree seedlings into my clients' wedding favors for their Italian Family inspired wedding this fall. I absolutely love this favor idea as it can be completely customized to match your wedding decor by using fabric that resembles your theme with the inclusion any types of seeds found under the sun. Love, love, LOVE!

Steps in Creative a Garden Wedding Kit
Fill small terracotta pot with biodynamic soil. Biodynamic farming and gardening is both a sustainable, restorative and unified approach to agriculture that relates the ecology of the earth-organism to that of the entire cosmos. To read more about biodynamics, visit www.biodynamics.com.

Cover soil-filled pot with a decorative square-piece of paper. Secure with piece of raffia. You may also use ribbons and twines.

Place covered pot in a cellophane bag along with a decorative packet of seeds. We created our own by sourcing mini lavender envelopes, and incorporating charming hand-drawn leaf illustrations by artist Elizabeth Hubbell.

 Write a letter of love and gratitude to your friends and family who will be joining you for your wedding celebration.

 Include planting directions on the inside of your card.

 Cinch the cellophane bag with piece of raffia, tying the hole-punched card along with it.

Those who helped make this Couple's Garden initiative possible.

StyleMePretty Cover Feature - Our Fall Holman Ranch Wedding

Our fall wedding at Holman Ranch from last October was a cover feature in this week's StyleMePretty! What a compliment to say the least! As one of my most favorite wedding blogs online today, it's wonderful to be recognized for our work since these ladies see the best of the best in weddings all over the country. Thanks Abby and Erin!

See the entire write-up here and view the beautiful image gallery.

Bridal Style - Stepping Away from Tradition (just a touch)

Who said breaking the rules can't be fun?

Every bride knows that her dress is THE main focal point of the wedding and IT is what sets her decor theme into action. Why not step out of the traditional box and be bold by using colors, textures and patterns? It's your day, isn't it?

Every season I fall in love with so many bridal gowns fabulous designers showcase on the runway, both traditional and non-traditional, that it's impossible for me to favor one way or the other. Weddings encompass fashion in every sense of the word so when it comes to bridal style, there are no "rights" and no "wrongs". Celebrities such as Gwen Stefani and Sarah Jessica Parker embraced this philosophy and went against the traditional grain by wearing gowns by designers that were unconventional and colorful. It's your day and don't be afraid to break a little tradition when it comes to style. All you got to do is "own it"!

Here are a few of my favorite rule breaking bridal gowns out this season:

Pleated Fantasy Gown by BHLDN

Zinnia Gown by BHLDN

Trumpeted Pavot Gown by BHLDN

Pastel by Monique Lhuillier

Felicity by Vera Wang

Style #RK289 by Romona Kaveza

Style #RK229 by Romona Kaveza

Look #18 by Oscar de la Renta

Worth Splurging For - Bridal Shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti

I'm always on the search for bridal shoes for my clients, and well, for myself! I come from the school of thought where shoes are always a great investment and definitely worth splurging for.

Here are a set of shoes made by Giuseppe Zanotti that I absolutely adore and one out of this collection would be perfect with almost any wedding gown style or season. Enjoy! (These are all available on endless.com)