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Wedding Color Inspiration: Pink and Gold

Hello readers, this is Jacqueline Weppner from Merci New York, a styling service for the busy city bride. I’m delighted to be back on StrictlyWeddings.com, discussing the hottest trends in wedding style and fashion.

Today we’re talking pink. And not just the ho-hum girly variety, but the overwhelming resurgence of lush blush pink with hints of metallic. It’s certainly become one of the most popular wedding day palettes for the fashionista bride; and if executed correctly, it can remain one of the freshest as well.

With a decided nod to the nostalgia of the 1940s and 1950s, a blush and gold palette suggests the sass and glamour of old Hollywood, yet it remains firmly nestled in a playful femininity suitable for any wedding day style. It lends itself to soft décor and tiny retro touches (think hints of tulle and a darling birdcage veil, as seen in my inspiration board above)… and it will always encourage a soft, polished calm.

Need more inspiration? Here are some tips and tricks to create a blush and gold look that is elegant without being stuffy:

• Pretty paper: Get thee to Ceci. The luxe bespoke stationer Ceci New York has NYC and all the country swarming for her gorgeous creations. And if custom designs are not in your budget, her ready-to-buy line sports a handful of pink and gold options that are equally divine, such as the Versaille and Antoinette suites.
• Inspiring cakes: Call up our favorite Manhattan confectionary master, the lovely Ruth Drennan, for a custom-made cake. Ruth’s designs are absolutely ethereal and wonderfully inspired, it’s no wonder they’ve found themselves on the pages of countless wedding magazines.
• Blushing beauty: Be sure to provide your stylist with a compact of NARS blush in Orgasm for the big day (considering she doesn’t already have it on hand, of course)! As you may know, this shade has won countless beauty awards for being the best blush on the market. Suitable for literally all complexions, it gives a pretty, yet subtle flush to your cheeks and lasts long into the night.
• Luscious gowns: Hands down, the most confectionery crème-de-la-crème of the blush-gown set hail from Vera Wang’s Spring 2010 collection.  Truly, you’ll look no further.
• Retro Accessories: In this department, famed milliner Philip Treacy is your go-to guy. I adore his sculptural bow headpiece. This exquisite finishing touch is a striking alternative to a traditional veil on your big day. How decidedly retro would it be in your get-away photos?

Inspiration board photo credits: From top: Meringue cake, Jean Tsai {pointe shoes, portrait}, Sarah Maingot {tulle, teapot, mirror images}, Anna Williams {cupcake papers}, favors, candles.

The Glamorous Wedding Day Clutch

Hi there, it’s Jacqueline Weppner from Merci New York.  I’m thrilled to be back on StrictlyWeddings.com.

Spring wedding season has officially sprung, and with it comes the all-too-common flurry of brides scouring the city for the often forgotten (and ever-elusive) accessory: the glamorous wedding day clutch.

As brides, we spend months preparing our wedding day wardrobe. Getting The Dress.  Finding The Shoes.  Coordinating it all with a veil, of sorts, and trekking to fittings galore.  We invest hours in every other part of our wedding day wardrobe, but often ignore the most versatile (and re-wearable) accessory until the last minute.   Our clutch.  Well, shouldn’t it be an heirloom as well?

Enter Judith Leiber’s gorgeous minaudières. The designer is arguably the city’s swankest source for gala and benefit accoutrement, but I just adore her life-saving presence for the wedding wardrobe.  There’s just something so special about her designs… Almost jewels in their own right, Judith Leiber handbags are stylish investments designed to last a lifetime.

Of all her designs, I cannot resist the novelty creations… they’re so whimsical and add a personal touch to any ensemble.  Here are a few that are currently available in the New York boutique:

Of course, if the novelty miniaudieres are a bit too editorial for your taste, Judith Leiber’s classic pieces just ooze glamour and sophistication.  They quickly transition from bridal to evening, and remain the perfect accessory for any high-gloss occasion. (In fact, every First Lady since 1953 has carried a Leiber handbag to the Presidential Inauguration).

Of the four styles below, the “chocolate bar” (lower right) has become an iconic classic.  It’s certainly my pick for a bride who’s looking to add a bit of bling to her wedding day ensemble… (and rumor suggests it will relieve the cupcake miniaudiere of it’s starring role in the SATC sequel this spring).

Fashionista fun fact: Judith (Peto) Leiber’s life was quite the Cinderella story.  She survived World War II in hiding, and met her husband Gerson, an American soldier, in the streets of Budapest when the city was liberated. She moved to the United States as a GI bride and worked as a pattern maker, but always had dreams of owning her own business… She and Gerson worked hand in hand on Judith’s vision, and they formed her namesake company in 1963. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Frugalista fun fact: Saavy summer brides can score perfectly posh Judith Leiber clutches at half off their original prices at the Manhattan boutique’s annual sale, which generally takes place in mid-June.  Check the New York Magazine sale guide for more details. (For those who don’t live here, sounds like a great basis for a shopping trip).

Photos courtesy of Judith Leiber.

Let Panna Dolce Sweeten Up that Special Day

Panna Dolce specializes in bridal/wedding orders requiring personal customization as well as parties and events. Custom colors, flavors, and fillings are never a problem; they have even matched their macarons to the bride’s shoes – not an easy task. Using their online store, customers can personalize favors with message, photos, logos and monograms that serve as perfect mementos for any occasion.

(Wedding Shower Favors)

Panna Dolce is the brainchild of three Chicago-based friends and partners, Katharine & Justin Greis and Lauren Robin. Katharine and Lauren run the baking and product development while Justin handles much the technology and marketing. The three friends came together in 2009 after a five year obsession with creating the perfect French Macaron! Their mission was to develop an authentic Laduree-style French Macaron that was true to its classic french roots yet resilient enough to ship cross-country. It took five long years, but they finally figured out the perfect recipe to make the macarons incredibly tender and delicious yet strong enough to handle the shipping process to any corner of the U.S. Each piece of perfect pillowy culinary art explodes with flavor. Flavors such as Key Lime, Almond Butter and Strawberry Jelly, and Chocolate Caramel Marshmallow headline their collection and have drawn a cult following of macaron devotees. Panna Dolce does not skimp on quality. They only use the finest ingredients and bake each macaron to-order to maximize shelf life.

Along the way, Katharine and Lauren invented three cookie recipes (Chocolate  Chip Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cranberry and Toffee Pretzel Peanut Butter Crunch) and a Brownie (called The Brownie to End All Brownies) too good to keep secret.

You can find Panna Dolce online at PannaDolce.com as well as Twitter and Facebook. You can also check out some of their event photos and favor examples on their blog or at Flickr.com. Chicagoans can also find Panna Dolce at your local Goddess and Grocer store in Bucktown, Gold Coast and Elston.

For more information please contact Lauren Robin.

This Love was Heaven Sent – Featured Weddings – Dorsae & Lewis

The wedding was the natural outcome. The meeting was a message sent from above…

Her story:

Our lives crossed paths on August 21, 1999 at Sambuca’s Jazz Club and Restaurant in downtown Houston, Texas.  Little did I know that God had a divine appointment on His plate. Like many things in my life, I missed it! But God was determined!  Two days later I was running early for an appointment, I stopped at Luby’s Restaurant at Fondren and Westheimer, nothing fancy, a very plain cafeteria, not far from the manger where Jesus was born!  Lo and behold, there was this stranger that I had met two days earlier.  What a coincidence I thought to myself, still not recognizing that this was a divine appointment from God.

Well to make a long story short, it did not take me long to realize that God had His hands in this encounter.  I have had ups and downs in my life, but because of the love and support of my Lewis, the downs have been few.

His story:

I had set out for an evening of jazz performances at a new venue in downtown Houston, Texas called Sambucas. When the band began its second set, I turned to see three beautiful ladies who suddenly appeared from nowhere to sit immediately on my left. The young lady closest to me struck up a conversation that centered around medicine since she was a nurse. Her friend (Dorsae) barely noticed me because the gentleman next to her had her occupied with stories of grandeur since he was an executive with Continental Airlines, with some 20 million frequent flyer miles under his belt and a loft atop of Sambucas.

Eventually, the five of us decided to have dinner whereby the conversations at the bar evolved to the sitting area of the restaurant. My focus for most of the evening was with Dorsae’s friend and the superb jazz band that played music that a jazz enthusiast could truly appreciate. Dorsae continued to converse with “Mr. Continental Airlines” and totally missed God’s calling for her to “abandon the dude” and follow through on His assignment to meet her future husband.

Nevertheless, the evening ended with me finding out her girl friend was married to a doctor and she was also expecting a baby eight months later. Now it’s 2:00 a.m., Dorsae “dumps” the dude and I never got her personal information. I suspect she thought I was interested in her girlfriend.  Little did she know I was so through with wanting to converse with her friend once I found out she was married. So I left the club thinking that I probably wouldn’t see any of these ladies again in life, especially since I lived in Clear Lake, Texas and Dorsae lived in southwest Houston (… it was sixty miles between both of our homes). But God has a sense of humor! While visiting a client in Houston on the west side of the city, a colleague and I were having lunch at a Luby’s Restaurant on Fondren.  I was telling him about my night out two days earlier with the three ladies, but I also failed to get the number of the “gorgeous single lady” whom I should have been conversing with.

We finished lunch and were leaving for our appointment, when I turned the corner of the restaurant and there she was!  Dorsae was literally having lunch in the same restaurant!  It was though God had said,  … “If you two screw this up this time, I am through with you both!” We both were in awe of seeing each other again, and both felt that this was no coincidence, especially since we lived on opposite sides of the world.

Nevertheless, I followed through on my hunch that this was no ordinary “sister”, rather a unique, smart, statuesque, beautiful woman, that I eventually found out loved the Lord.  In fact our first date was to attend her church, and the rest is history. Yes, God does have a sense of humor!  And I am glad He brought us back together again as He did to prove to both of us, this is no accident.  “I want you two to follow through on My Divine Province for you both!  I want you married to each other!”

The Proposal:

Lewis: Wa ya ma me!!!???
Dorsae: Lewis get that bread out of your mouth, I don’t know what you’re saying
Lewis: Will you marry me?
Dorsae: What?
Lewis:  Will you marry me?
Dorsae:  I don’t see no ring!
Lewis: Rings are non-refundable! Will you marry me or not?
Dorsae:  It depends!
Lewis:  On what?
Dorsae:  Will you love and obey?
Lewis:  It depends!
Dorsae:  On what?
Lewis:  Will you submit and not ask questions?
Dorsae:  It depends!
Lewis:  On what?
Dorsae:  Are you rich?
Lewis:  Yes!
Dorsae:  No further questions!
Lewis:  Honey, I love you!  Will you marry me?
Dorsae:  I love you too honey!  Yes, yes I’ll marry you!
Lewis:  Excuse me!  Can I get a Vodka and tonic?
Dorsae:  Excuse me!  Can I have a box of kleenex?

(American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones sang at the wedding)

Dorsae Riddles and Lewis Bennett – November 29, 2009

Ceremony: Rockerfeller Chapel
Reception: The Palmer House
Flowers: Daniels Floriculture
Photography: Jai Girard Photography

Jai Girard Wins Two Accolades of Excellence in 2010 Awards of Excellence 16×20 Print Competition

We are proud of the award our Chicago partner, Jai Girard, has received.

She received special honors in the WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL (WPPI) 2010 Awards of Excellence 16×20 Print Competition. “Lost in a Dream” received an Accolade of Excellence in the Bride and Groom Together category. ” In a Wedding Dress and Alone” received an Accolade of Excellence in the Non-Wedding Photojournalism category.

Girard competed against an international field of photographers to win such honors. The Awards of Excellence 16×20 Print Competition awards are presented each year at the largest trade show, educational platform and convention in the United States for professional photographers. The 2010 competition included 3388 prints in 18 different categories submitted by photographers from all over the world.

Lost in a Dream

In a dress and alone

Butterfly Appliques add Chic Touch to Garden Weddings

Hi there. This is Jacqueline Weppner from Merci New York, a Manhattan-based blog and bridal styling service that provides “chic and stylish inspiration to the busy city bride.” I’m thrilled for the opportunity to guest blog on StrictlyWeddings.com.

Part of my job as a stylist is to bring insider experience from the fashion industry directly to my brides. Often such inspiration comes from a recent showroom appointment, trunk show, or even people watching along the streets of Manhattan… but with all the fabulous fashion shows that have graced the worldwide stage these past few months, my mind has recently been on the runway.

While runway style is often extremely editorial, Valentino’s Fall 2010 RTW at Paris Fashion Week has some darling details that transcend perfectly into bridal. My absolute favorite were these gorgeous butterfly appliques… Either softly woven or ornately bejeweled, I adore their delicate perch on the collarbone or hip… They add a decidedly chic, of-the-moment touch to any garden-inspired wedding. Enjoy!

Fashionista fun fact: The Valentino butterflies are said to be inspired by the early works of Damien Hirst. In his controversial first exhibit, “In and Out of Love,” Hirst filled the Woodstock Street Gallery with hundreds of live tropical butterflies. As visitors admired the art, some butterflies even hatched from the monochrome canvases that hung on the walls.

For more information on Merci New York and Jacqueline’s services, please visit www.mercinewyork.blogspot.com.

Photos via ImaxTree

Murphy’s Law and Wedding Photographers

When things go wrong is your photographer prepared? As a non-photographer, how do you know if your photographer is prepared when something goes wrong? Our rule of thumb is to always have a contingency plan for anything electrical!

• Ask your photographer if they carry extra cameras and flashes on hand
• Do they keep their backup equipment close? With their assistant? (And if it’s a small wedding or you’re not budgeting for extra photographers, ask if they would leave it with a member of your wedding party – be prepared for resistance though, photographers are very particular about their equipment, but the question needs to be asked anyway.)
• Are they using lighting equipment? If so, where do they propose to keep the extra equipment (not being as easy to lug around as a camera or flash)?
• Does the photographer use a single memory card or multiple memory cards? Granted, it’s very convenient for the photographer to just shoot everything on a single card, yet what happens if the worst happens… the camera gets stolen, the card is not working properly … it never hurts for them to shoot the wedding using smaller memory cards, that way there are always extras.

The need for backup plans can be applied to every one of your wedding vendors, but your wedding photography is something that lives on forever, so you want to make double-triple-sure that you take all possible precautions for a successful outcome.

Don’t miss the special moments of your wedding. Make sure your wedding photographer is prepared. These beautiful images below of Emily and Craig by Jai Girard Photography.

StrictlyWeddings.com – Irish Weddings Customs

From tying the knot to ringing the wedding bells to exchanging claddagh rings, Irish wedding customs add a rich aura of Emerald Isle heritage to the special day.

Indeed, the very language people use to describe a wedding in casual terms, “tying the knot,” comes from Irish tradition. It refers to the old Irish custom known as “handfasting,” in which the bride’s and groom’s hands were tied together during the marriage ceremony as a symbol of their commitment to each other.

Here are just a few Irish Wedding Customs:

• Bells. Rung to chase off evil spirits, small bells may be passed out among the congregants at the ceremony for them to sound as the bride walks down the aisle.
• Magic Hanky. The bride carries a special linen handkerchief that, when the moment comes, can be simply transformed with needle and thread into a bonnet for her first baby.
• Horseshoes. Dating back to the ancient belief that there are magical powers present in the iron from which actual horseshoes are forged, this tradition calls for the bride to carry a tiny horseshoe charm in her bouquet or sewn into the hem of her dress as a symbol of good fortune. Bride and groom may also be given an actual horseshoe as a gift, to hang in their home together. Horseshoes are always placed with their open ends facing up so that fortune won’t spill out.
• Handfasting. This ancient Celtic ceremony involved the tying together of a couple’s wrists as a symbol of their unity. Sometimes, handfasting was considered wedding ceremony enough, without need of an attending priest.
• Claddagh Ring. The traditional Irish design symbolically sums up the essence of marriage. Two hands of friendship clasp a heart for love, above which rests a crown symbolizing eternal honor and loyalty.
• Mead. The ancient, potent brew fermented from honey is served to the wedding couple, with the intention of increasing her fertility and his virility.
• Salt and Oatmeal. To begin the wedding banquet, bride and groom together take three bites each of these down-to-earth, hearth-and-home foods to ward off the evil eye.<
• Kidnapping the Bride. The wedding party traditionally ends with the groom picking up and carrying off his bride, a playful reference to the ancient practice of mead-intoxicated men kidnapping the women they wanted to make their wives.

Interestingly, that last custom, along with the drinking of mead, is also believed to be the source of the common English-language name for the couple’s post-wedding vacation together – the honeymoon.

Source: Norman Kolpas, from Google

Photo courtesy of Liz Shim at EatCakeBeMerry

Tanning for your Wedding Day? Think again!

To Tan or Not Tan…

If you are naturally a bronzed goddess then perhaps this is not an issue for you. Yet you may want to continue reading just in case you’re wanting that extra bronze glow for your wedding day.

Do you get your tan the natural way? In a tanning booth? Or have you opted for more health conscious options like spray on tans and bronzing makeups?

Temporary tanning requires planning. You’ll want it to be fresh for your wedding day.  If you are using a tanning booth please do not overdo it. All photographers are using digital cameras now and too much red in your skin will stand out!

Many brides who are naturally pale feel they should tan because the dress is pale or white. Should this be the case? Maybe, but I would suggest you ask a professional (make up or photographer) opinion before you do it. The color of the dress, even white, can have warm or cool tones in it which compliment your skin tone and will not make you look washed out. And a tan gone wrong cannot be hidden the day of your wedding.

If you plan to take a beach trip or lay outside to tan, be conscious of tan lines. A good makeup artist can minimize them but the makeup may come off on the dress. And yes, the photos can be retouched in Photoshop but you can’t Photoshop you walking down the aisle … in your gorgeous dress, beautiful hair, flawless makeup and tan lines (which will spoil the whole effect).

Finally the color of the face, neck and ALL visible skin should match. If you meet with a makeup artist for a consultation in advance but you’re going to be a different color the next time they see you, let them know.

As with all things related to the ” big day” a bit of advance planning will go a long way to a happy ending.

Source: Penny Sadler, Makeup Artist
SW.com Partner

Photo: Penny Sadler with Melrose Place actress Laura Leighton. Penny was hired to do her makeup during the Melrose Place media tour in Dallas last fall.

A love so deep – Featured Weddings – Chicago’s Emily and Craig

Emily Miller and Craig Mandell have been together since they were 18. They met 8 years ago at college and both went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but were from nearby Chicago suburbs. They have been living in Chicago, mostly together, since school. Craig is an attorney and Emily is in Healthcare Consulting. StrictlyWeddings.com would like to thank the lovely couple for sharing their beautiful wedding with us.

Photography: Jai Girard Photography
Video: Larry Wayne Evolution Video
Flowers- Kehoe (Vince)
Planner- Barbara Moss Events
Band- Larry King Orchestra
Dress: Divina Sposa
Bridemsaid dresses- Jenny Yoo
Rings- Cy Fredricks
Makeup- Cynde Cosmetics
Hair- Jessica Gryz
Venue: Fairmont