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A Very Carrie Wedding Dress

The fashion in Sex and the City is almost as famous as it’s stars and head stylist Patricia Field has revealed that even she didn’t get the final say when it came to Carrie’s wedding dress.

Patricia told journalists in the US that she wanted Sarah Jessica Parker to wear the Zac Posen dress worn by Kristin Davis (Charlotte) in the wedding scenes rather than the Vivienne Westwood creation she actually wore.

“It came down to a Zac Posen gown and a Vivienne Westwood gown,” Patricia revealed to the Chicago Tribune, “The Vivienne gown was chosen because the feeling was, not necessarily my feeling, that that gown was the quintessential princess gown.”

“The Zac gown that Charlotte wore in navy at the wedding was actually the gown I wanted Sarah Jessica Parker to wear in white,” she added.

“This gown had beautiful wings that came off the shoulder blade. I chopped them for the navy one because Charlotte couldn’t have these wings next to Carrie. On my end, I would have chosen that gown for Carrie, but you know it’s collaborative.”

Carrie Bradshaw wears a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown, which she accessorizes with a dramatic bird hairpiece. “Carrie was always the eclectic girl,” says Pat Field.

Just Follow The Steps and “Say Anything”

Now here is a unique gift to give the bride and groom, “say anything” design lets you choose from platters, frames or vases to customize what YOU want it to say.

Click here to visit their web site.

StrictlyWeddings.com Featured on CW 33

Many thanks to Victoria Snee, entertainment reporter for KDAF in Dallas, for covering StrictlyWeddings.com’s event with Neiman Marcus for celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss.  To see our feature during the News at Nine’s Trendy Tuesday segment, please click here.

Summertime Drinks

Strawberry Watermelon Mojito

It was mint to be: a sunny drink filled with a summer favorite-and no seeds.

- 1½ oz. Smirnoff Strawberry Vodka
- ½ oz. fresh lime juice
- ½ oz. mint-infused simple syrup
- 1 cup fresh seedless watermelon, cubed and chilled
- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
- Club soda

To make mint syrup, bring 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and add 8 to 10 mint leaves. Let cool for 30 minutes. Strain. Combine vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, ½ cup of watermelon and about 10 mint leaves in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a glass with ice and remaining watermelon. Top with club soda. Garnish with additional mint leaf.
Cocktail created by the Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, Florida.

Jocasta margarita glass, $81; William Yeoward Crystal, 800-818-8484, williamyeowardcrystal.com.

Sterling Rope stirrer, $100 for set of four; Lunt Silversmiths, 800-242-2774, luntsilver.com.

Monogrammed stirrer flag; Ellen Weldon Design, NYC, 212-925-4483.
Source: brides.com

Survival Kits For The Bride, Groom And Even Bridesmaid!

Say “yes” to no stress with the new Bridessentials Kit by Ms. & Mrs. Tucked in a slim silver case, the Bridessentials Kit is compact enough to tote around for the entire wedding day. And with 25 essentials inside—including a “Something Blue” Heart-Shaped Crystal—this survival kit is comprehensive enough to conquer almost any wedding day calamity.

Prevent groomzilla sightings with The Groom’s Survival Kit by Ms. & Mrs. Inside this handsome attache is a collection of 26 personal care and emergency solutions designed just for the groom. He may think that he doesn’t need this kit — until disaster strikes, of course. Topped with a “stress” ball and chain, this practical collection can help any guy tie the knot with composure and confidence.

Bridesmaids are there to support the bride in every way. But who helps them when they face a minor emergency? Enter The Bridesmaid’s Survival Kit by Ms. & Mrs. This compact collection of 18 essentials comes in a discreet, silver-tone mesh case so that ladies can keep it within reach all wedding day long. The matching gift tag reads: “Thanks for being my bridesmaid. I couldn’t have survived without you.”

Say “I do” to disaster relief with the Wedding Day Survival Kit by Ms. & Mrs. Inside this chic, reusable train case are 30 must-have items to help brides fend off any last-minute fiasco. With these essentials by her side, a bride can be prepared for virtually any emergency on her wedding day and beyond. Topped with a white satin ribbon and “life-size” novelty diamond ring, this kit makes the ultimate bridal shower gift.

All kits are available at Mr. and Mrs.

From Veils to Cakes, the Top Celebrity Wedding Trends

From landscape centerpieces to dramatic first dances, celebrities are going all out to celebrate their nuptials. In Style Weddings magazine highlights the many stars incorporating the hottest, newest trends for their walk down the aisle:

Luscious landscapes
First it was monochromatic, all-one-color centerpieces, which Heidi Klum and Seal did, then it was multiples — lots of little centerpieces on one table. The new look? Landscapes. According to celebrity planner Michele Rago, who did the flower arrangements for “SVU” star Mariska Hargitay, new trends include bead-strewn crystal candelabras, potted herbs and even natural motifs like mushrooms.

Why are these a trend? Because celebrities and regular brides are looking for something different. Landscape centerpieces give a whole new dramatic atmosphere to the wedding. They might include pretty bowls, moss, and even just mushrooms. It goes way beyond flowers.

Dramatic veils
Celebrity brides are going retro by wearing dramatic veils for their ceremonies. Veils had fallen out of favor for the “two dress” trend, where brides wear one dress for their ceremony and then change into a different dress for their reception.

For a while, people thought that veils were too classic and old-fashioned (they date back to ancient Rome). A lot more celebrities are adding veils to their dresses, as it’s something every bride can do without spending too much money; a veil is a great way to change your look from ceremony to reception at a fraction of the cost. You can chose to wear the veil even during the reception! But for comfort’s sake, try a shorter style.

Groom’s cake
This Southern tradition has been gaining favor over the last few years and is now a full-blown trend. It’s a way for the groom to personalize the wedding. Foodie Tyler Florence kicked off the trend with his “Steel Magnolias” themed groom’s cake. For his lavish Beverly Hills wedding, Josh Cappo, jewelry designer Erica Courtney’s son, had an armadillo-shaped red velvet cake. The cake should pick up on something about the groom — a favorite sport, activity, hometown or even nickname.

The groom’s cake should be an interest of or connection to the groom. It’s a fun surprise that can be featured during the reception so people can see it, and it’s served with the traditional wedding cake.

Global-inspired favors
Favors are a great way to thank your guests. Willa Ford sent guests home with herb-scented candles that complimented her herb motif. “My Girl” star Anna Chlumsky embraced her husband-to-be’s heritage by giving chopsticks.

For a couple with Indian heritage, all the female guests can receive colorful bangles tied with a ribbon. Or you can embrace your hometown with candy apples for a New York City wedding. People think favors are lame and throw them out, so if you are going to go through the effort, make sure that they mean something!

Formal first dance
As the TV sensation brings ballroom dancing to America’s living rooms, more and more couples (this includes our favorite celebrities) are leading their reception off with classic, choreographed dance moves. Once a couple finds their song, they find the classic dance — from a fox-trot to something sultry like the tango — to choreograph their moves to. People are tired of that fumbling high school dance — they want something memorable! Katherine McPhee even did a traditional dance at her wedding, to a 16-piece band, with twirls and dips (the works).

It’s best to prepare for your first dance with the same care you give to your invitations, gowns, catering, flowers and music. Start planning at least six months prior to your wedding date so that you can choose your special song, the type of dance you want, and take lessons before “wedding frenzy” sets in!

Private lessons are best as you will be able to dance exclusively with your fiancé and choose your own music. And remember, always practice the dance in your wedding gown (or close to it) instead of jeans …

For more information and wedding tips, visit In Style Weddings magazine online.

Band or DJ?

When you have the band-versus-dj discussion, you need to think about what each has to offer before signing a contract. Jung Lee, a co-owner of Fête, a top New York event-planning firm, says, “A great dj is better than a mediocre band any day, but a live band has wonderful energy that you can’t get from recorded music.” You decide which fits your party better.

Reasons to book a DJ:
* He’s affordable (dj prices start at about $500 for five hours; bands are often a minimum of $3,000)
* Will play any song you want
* Can work in small spaces without a lot of equipment
* Keeps music going during the entire party with no lull
* Is trained to choreograph the reception and make announcements

Reasons to book a band:
* They make a more dramatic presentation, with musicians, vocalists, and all those instruments
* Have unique personalities
* Their infectious energy can get people on the dance floor
* Guests who don’t dance will still enjoy watching the show
* Live music is more emotional, which is what the day is all about

This content originally appeared in Brides magazine.

Vera Wang doesn’t just do gowns: She has wedding tips and ideas, too

With a client list that includes A-listers Mariah Carey and Victoria Beckham, Vera Wang knows a thing or two about dressing brides for their big day. Now Wang is taking her expertise to the Web.

Building on her 2001 book Vera Wang on Weddings, VeraWangOnWeddings.com offers a registry and shopping portal for Vera Wang products, which include everything from mattresses to lingerie. In addition, users will find bridal gown photo galleries and video of Wang offering wedding tips and ideas.

“This is our way of leveraging all of our wedding knowledge, and also my desire to tap into that emotional vocabulary of weddings from every- thing from our fragrance all the way to our new beddings and linens,” Wang says. The site is set to launch May 20.

Wang is confident that most brides can benefit from her site, even if they can’t afford her pricey designer gowns. “Brides will get me,” she says.

Wang offered a sneak peek at her top wedding season tips and trends:

Tips

• Determine what kind of bride you are. Whether you’re a romantic, modern or exhibitionist bride, Wang says, you must do what makes you comfortable. “I think you really have to be who you are on that wedding day.”

• Decide how you’re going to live. Take into consideration what kind of life you and your partner want, and stick to it. “What’s the use to have china that is $30,000 a set, you need four staff to wash it and you bring it out maybe two or three times in your life?”

• Make planning couple-centric, not bride-centric. Some brides become so caught up in the hype and glamour of their big day, they forget they’re part of a couple. “Just because you like one type of mattress doesn’t mean your spouse does,” Wang says. Decisions are “about the bride and the groom together.”

Trends

• Multiple dresses. Many brides are opting for a few costume changes on their big day, including a ceremony dress as well as a dress or two for the reception and after. “I haven’t been lucky enough to have brides buy all three from me!”

• Destination weddings. Beach ceremonies and exotic locales are getting more popular, which means brides are showing more skin. “We’ve seen a surge in (destination weddings), hence lots of short dresses, lots of soft dresses, lots of bare dresses and lots of minis.”

• Color. White remains the standard for the wedding dress, but some brides are looking for a shot of color. It’s for “an individual who really is brave and confident and wants to make a fashion statement.”

By Arienne Thompson, USA TODAY