{Swoon}

Thanks Badgley Mischka!

Share on Facebook

Sitting Pretty: An oversized, feminine pink bloom tied to a silver plated headbandn sits atop the crown. Handcrafted petals make each flower a one-of-a-kind couture accessory. (Twigs and Honey; $70)

Blush and Bashful:  Hand sewn petally silk petals are gathered with glass beads and pearls. This is a romantic addition to your wedding day attire. Can it get any better? Myra, the designer is from Salem Oregon. How lovely is that? Local love. (Twigs and Honey; $80)

1) Pearls of Wisdom: Vintage pearls and gold leaves are twisted on a pin to create a chic look. Beads in clear and muted pinks sit neatly in a nest of pearls. (FrostingsJewelry; $15)

2) Golden Goddess: A leaf shape made of antiqued brass embellishes a simple metal headband. This can be added to your collection and used again after the wedding. (OdalisPetitMenagerie; $18)

3) Birds of a Feather: Peacock feathers are fanned to show off its natural shimmer. Muted earth tones with slight bursts of pinks flatter all skin tones and hair colors. (LiveinStyle; $18)

4) Lean and Green: A delicate bouquet of flowers tied to a wrapped headband. Glass beads mimic green berries straight from nature. (BeSomethingNew; $30)

5) Nothing but Net: Feathers, sparkles and tulle, oh my. This gorgeous piece has feather adornments and Swarovski crystals for a touch of sparkle. (qgdesigns; $120)

6) Threes Company: The best of three worlds. Little pins with a feather, silk flower or vintage button make a great grouping that will hold back soft flowy tresses. (MissBettyLou; $8)

So many options out there, it is hard to choose just one.

Share on Facebook

(Heather Hawksford Photography)

Diamond in the Rough: This absolutely stunning silk masterpiece accentuates the body with its smooth lines and structureless composition. A sweetheart neckline was added by the bride’s seamstress to add more to a small bust line.

(Remembrance Photography; Mosca Photo)

1) Silky Soul: This floor length silk dupioni gown has a nubby texture which is gives it refined roughness. Silk halter straps wrap around the neck and are tied into a knot, while the remaining straps cascade down the back. The bride raised the hem to make it a tea length dress.

2) See description (#3) below for this lovely dress

(jenstire; personal; tapiak)

1) Pull the Reins: The waist line is empire and creates an illusion of length. Triangle straps tie neatly in a bow at the nap of neck. The hem stops at the floor and can be altered for any shorter length.

2) Short and Chic: This strapless silk column dress is a basic silhouette. The hem hits below the mid-calf and the bodice is made to fit. It comes in several sizes and can be altered to fit your body like a glove. Colorful silk sashes are also sold in the shop to wrap the waist in a colorful hug.

3) Social Butterfly: The silk under layer lays the foundation for this lovely fluttery frock. The top layer is layered with silk organza that catches with he slightest breeze. The bias cut gown is paired with a cream colored sash

The classic designs and natural fabrics are appealing and stately. The detail of the bead work and hand painted fabrics you are masterpeices all on their own. This is a dress shop for the bride with discriminating taste.

Share on Facebook

1) Bicycle Built for Two; 2) Float on By 3) Riding Miss Daisy 4) Special Delivery 5) Ride by Your Side 6) Just Married 7) Hitched at the Bike Lot Vegas, Baby

I love the action shots and the boudiour-esqe pose (#6).

Share on Facebook

Jane Zoe & John Doe

request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Sunday, the fourth of October
two thousand ten
at six o’clock in the evening

1890 SE Street
Portland, Oregon

Wedding Music Video and Reception to follow

Check out the wedding music video of Brian and Eileen. I bow down to their video coordinator and guests. Kudos to you.

Share on Facebook

3) Non-Profits: Brides Against Breast Cancer is a non-profit that accepts gently used wedding dresses and new dresses from designers and bridal saloons. Then tours around the US and sell their dresses a deep discount. All the proceeds benefit breast cancer research, breast cancer education and support women with metastatic breast cancer. Another example is Bridal Garden. They carry HUGE designers at a fraction of the cost. However, they won’t you return the dress, even if you bought it 3 minutes before (true story). So be sure this is not an impulse buy. If you donate your dress to either organization, it is a tax deduction!

4) Discount digs: There are many stores that advertise “Below designer price” and “super savings”. It can be unsettling when EVERY designer has a part of their website warning buyers of unauthorized dealers. I can only attest to two of those websites through personal experience. House of Brides and Pearl’s Place. PP tends to be a few dollars cheaper than HOB, but HOB lists the designer and the price on the page. In contrast, PP wants you to send an email requesting that private information. My suggestions: a) Try to find on the specific dress in question in an actual bridal salon. Doesn’t mean you will buy from them, but at least you can get an idea on the sizing. Or ask a professional tailor/seamstress to take your measurements b) Be sure to order with ample time. It takes time to process your order, ship to the store, process, then ship to your house.

5) Plain Jane: Buy a plain dress in the silhouette you love and have your seamstress (or you) add the embellishments. Basic dresses are cheaper! Search your local fabric store or Ebay for feathers, lace, ribbon, beads, pearls etc.

6) You’ll find it downtown: They are catching the wedding fever and starting to feature bridal lines. Luckily, they didn’t jump on the pricing bandwagon and charge up the wazoo. If the store does not have a specific bridal line, search for white/ivory dresses and you will be surprised by the results. Some people may not stick with the “No White before Memorial Day”, but designers have. If you check in the late winter/early spring, you will find a gaggle of gowns, which is perfect timing for wedding season (April-September). Check out White House Black Market, Nordstroms, Saks Fifth Avenue and other nice retailers for dresses. If your wedding is not during this high priced wedding period, then good for you! J Crew usually have their bridal dresses on sale in the fall/winter (after the wedding rush is over). So now, that gorgeous silk ball gown is 60% off and very much affordable. Don’t forget about special occasion gowns, such as Jessica McClintock, Simply Dresses and Edress Me.

7) Always a bridesmaid: Bridesmaid dresses usually come in some variant of white (ivory, white, eggshell, champagne etc). Don’t worry about sizing, most bridesmaid lines are larger in size, so you will have to get it altered to fit your body. I suggest the JLM Couture (a line by wedding dress designer Alvina Valenta and Jim Hjelm). It may be expensive for a bridesmaid, but the rich silks and details will surprise you and your budget (around 280 dollars).

8 ) Use and Reuse: Ebay, Craigslist, Preownedweddingdresses.com are three sites that come to mind. However, please be wary of sellers on Ebay. Several brides ordered their custom designer wedding dresses and it ends up costing more since the dress is basically a shell (no lining, no boning, tulle, etc). These little things will add up when you take it to the seamstress. Additionally, on Craigslist, I’ve only seen dresses with uber puffy sleeves and chiffon overlays like there is no tomorrow. Furthermore, be cautious and take a friend/bridesmaid AND tell your fiancé where you are going if you plan on looking at a dress. As for POWD, the sellers are only selling one dress, their dress. The website is quite reputable, so don’t worry. J

Share on Facebook