Stylish Mother of the Occasion (MOTO) Dresses

My mother has five children. None of them are married yet, but Mom already knows what she's wearing to the first wedding:

Yes, that's Helen Mirren at the 2008 Oscars. Mom cut the picture out of a magazine for inspiration, because she knows good outfits for mothers of the bride (and groom!) can be hard to find. So in honor of Mother's Day yesterday, we thought it'd be fun to post some MOTO dresses that are as beautiful and stylish as the women who wear them. Enjoy! -Alison

Eco Chic Bridal Gowns Part 2

I first encountered Adele Wechsler's designs while working at a bridal gown shop in Georgetown. Her eco-couture line is geared toward "the bride who cares about the world in which she lives." Adele uses hemp and (vegetable dyed) silk, remnant lace and fabrics, and other organic design elements, and she employs fair trade labor. Basically, the Adele Wechsler bride is equal parts eco-savy and fashion forward. Here's a sampling of her latest line of "green" gowns.

Enjoy!
Alison

Pooches in the Wedding Party

What is the famous quote about working with children and animals? Well, we've worked with plenty of both and often the dogs are easier than the small children! Just a couple of weeks ago, my wedding had the couple's fabulous dog, George, in the processional and he was a dream to work with. If only all my bridal parties were as well-behaved as George! (George is not the puppy pictured above. That adorable pooch was in one of Amy's weddings last year!)

Here are a few tips if you plan to include a favorite canine in your wedding:

-Have a designated person to take care of the dog on-site. This person should be familiar with the dog and be equipped with treats and any "equipment" needed for bathroom runs. If the dog will be there while everyone is getting ready, make sure the person isn't one of the people getting ready.

-Bring any water/food bowls, food, treats or familiar toys.

-Consider just having the dog "drop by" if having him around the whole day is too much.

-If your dog is jumpy, don't let him around the bridal party once you are dressed or you may end up with torn stockings or paw prints on your dress. Not pretty!

-Consider a floral collar or leash if your dog is part of the processional. But don't sweat it if he tries to eat it or shake it off. He will be cute enough without it!

-Have your dog groomed before the wedding so he is looking his best. After all, everyone else is getting their hair done!

-Make sure your photographer knows you want some photos with your dog.

-Make sure you have plans for your dog after his "performance" is over. Arrange for him to be taken home or have a room for him. Don't let him run free at the reception. Not all your guests may love dogs as much as you do.

Have fun!

Punk Rock Bride 2010 Collection!

We blogged about Punk Rock Bride almost two years ago when we first discovered them. We loved their unique, unbride style. Well, their new 2010 collection is out and it's pretty fabulous.

A few common themes tie this collection together, including the use of layering, corseting, and unexpected details. The mixing of fabrics and textures has been a part of Punk Rock Bride's approach since the beginning, and this year is no exception. The new collection utilizes eight different fabrics - many of them unlikely choices for bridal, including silk brocade, silk wool, silk cotton, and a hand-knitted piece.


The corseting elements, while subtle, give the new collection two welcome characteristics: structure and shape. While one of the dresses, Ella, employs a completely separate corset that rests on top of a draping A-line dress, two of the other dresses - Jenny and Alex - use a simple corseted backing to achieve a sculptural effect by targeting specific isolated areas of each dress.



Some additional fun details include the addition of pleats, tucks, and insets, as well as unexpected components such as pockets, belts, and keyholes. The dresses maintain simple silhouettes, comfort, and a light airy quality, without sacrificing drama or style.





We love these fun dresses and hope you do, too!

Long Distance Love

It's amazing the intimate details you discover when planning the biggest day in a couples' life. Details like how the groom got up the nerve to score the first date, and the unfortunate way he decided to end it, or how a bride who stated she wouldn't travel for a relationship has been back and forth to Japan several times during her courtship and engagement. That's how you know it's right. When unexpected circumstances connect two people in a way they didn't think possible.


I started off my season just last week with Julia and Steve. Steve is a medic finishing up service in Japan and Julia works and lives here in DC. The two met while Steve was finishing up medical training just before he was sent to Japan. The planning process for the two was a lot of fun, for me, but I can't imagine how difficult it is to live so far from someone you are about to share the rest of your life with.


I had the occasion to meet Steven just once before the wedding, he flew in for the tasting, of course, and what a wonderful man he is.


Julia and Steven had more forces working against them the week of their wedding. Luckily, the groom got into town with just a three day window available, but the bride's sister and brother in law, who are currently living in England, were delayed and almost didn't make it, due to the lovely Icelandic Volcano. Luckily, the ash subsided, and they made it in. A little late is better than never for your only sisters wedding.



Over all, it was a great event where everyone showed extra appreciation for being able to be together from all over the world to celebrate Julia and Steven.



A special thanks to all the amazing vendors who made the event possible:
Haydee from the St. Regis
Mary from Love Life Images
David from Love Life Images video
The ladies at Petal's Edge
New Monopoly

Sara

Sequoia {Weddings on the Water}

Photo courtesy of Fotobriceno

Yesterday, Amy, Sara and I had a lovely lunch with Scott and Michelle from Sequoia in Washington Harbor. We love this popular restaurant as a bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner and wedding venue. You can't beat the Georgetown location, the floor to ceiling windows and the view of the water. Plus the light wood details and clean lines work well with just about any decor. And we love the new modern chandeliers hanging in the main dining room. They are so gorgeous lit up at night!

Here is a photo from a wedding Sara did at Sequoia a couple of years ago (before the new chandeliers). Enjoy!

Eco Chic Bridal Gowns

Almost two years ago, Laura and I did a post about environmentally friendly bridal gowns for Style Me Pretty. (You can read the original post here.) It’s amazing how the eco-chic market has grown since then, with more and more talented designers coming on the scene. Lucky us-- the results are nothing short of gorgeous!

Here's a sampling of the "green" bridal gowns that have caught our eyes lately. First up, Oregon-based designer Sarah Seven:

Photo credits: All images Sarah Seven on Etsy except for top right (Sarah Seven featured on Utterly Engaged)

Nautically Inspired Weddings

Whether your wedding is shipboard or on land, nautically inspired nuptials offer boat loads of charm. We hope this seaworthy inspiration board sends you off into a wonderful weekend-- bon voyage!

First row: navy bridesmaid dress (Sweet Monday Photography), seersucker bridesmaid dress by Thread, hand painted Lanterns (Style Me Pretty), escort card display (Brides.com)

Second row: seersucker ring bearer (Ritzy Bee), table setting (Style Me Pretty), yellow shoes (J. Crew), boutonniere (Brides.com)

Third row: deck chair (Brides.com), invitation suite (brides.com), chairs (Snippet and Ink), bride (Snippet & Ink)

Fourth row: lifesaver (Brides.com), wine, aisle runner and bouquet (Brides.com, tablescape (Snippet and Ink), paddles (Style Me Pretty)

Natalie and Mike {A Sneak Video Peek}!

Take a sneak peek at my wedding from this past Saturday from the fabulous Tom Bowen.
The couple and families were amazing, the decor was breathtaking and the party was rocking! More photos and details to come! Enjoy!

Laura

Ahoy! {Weddings at Sea}

Ships and boats aren’t options in all areas (obviously), but can be creative venues for weddings. If you love the water, exchanging vows on the deck of a beautiful paddlewheel boat or sleek yacht might be your idea of heaven.

Keep in mind that not all your guests will be as sea-worthy as you, though and once the boat has set sail, there’s no getting on or off. If you decide on a shipboard wedding, try to make it shorter than a typical five hour reception to be considerate of guests who might not want to be on the water for so long. Seasickness patches aren’t a bad thing to stock up on, either!

It is crucial with a wedding on a boat to indicate on your invitations exactly what time the boat will depart. Showing up late after the ship has sailed is no fun!



Other details to consider when planning a wedding at sea:

--How many people can realistically fit on the boat. Usually space restrictions on a ship are set because of safety so there is not much wiggle room.

--Catering space--We have had to build catering tents on docks to accommodate large ship weddings! Most boast don't have lots of kitchen space so choose a caterer with experience doing shipboard weddings. You also may have to adjust your ideas to what works on a boat!

--Weather-- This can be a big issue. No one wants to be sailing in a storm and Mother Nature is one thing you can't control. Be sure you can enough inside space on the boat to hold all your guests in case your wedding day doesn't turn out to be sunny. If you do have a super sunny day, you might want to provide sunscreen towelettes for guests so they don't get burned standing on the deck for hours.

Coming up later this week at Bridal Bubbly: creative ideas for nautical weddings!