Arriving in a Convertible ... Dress

August 16, 2016 in Photography, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Planning

Cars are not the only convertibles arriving at weddings. Just today, Style Me Pretty featured former Miss USA Nia Sanchez' wedding, where she wore a gown by Pnina Tornai. While it is not uncommon for a bride to purchase more than one dress for her special day, we have not seen a bride pair the two into one dress. The outcome, as you can see above, was flawless. The second I saw the transformation, I joined the millions with my obsession.

Traditionally, brides prefer the ball gown look for their ceremony. While flattering, the circumference of this style tends to interfere with festivities towards the end of the night - just imagine avoiding food stains in that skirt. It is at this time that brides change into a more fitted dress, one that is more mobile in order to interact with guests and dance more freely.

So, what are the advantages to having these two styles combined into one dress? Well, for one, your wallet will be thanking you. Designer wedding dresses can breach into the thousands (at least), and, while I have not researched it, I cannot imagine the price of a tutu skirt extension coming close to the price of a full gown. Another advantage to this style is the simplicity of the dress change: it does not require taking time away from your guests to formally change wardrobes. Just simply untie the extension as if you were bustling a dress. This convenience becomes an advantage from a photographers standpoint, as the photographer is able to easily capture the bride in both dresses during a First Look session. Once the sun sets, it is difficult for a photographer to capture portrait photos without shadows. With a gown this gorgeous, you are going to want both styles photographed in natural light. Lastly, there is only so much time in one's wedding day. The time it takes to change into a completely different gown is more than any bride wants to spend away from sharing the night with their loved ones.

So, what's next? Personally, I could see this trend expanding into convertible sleeves, especially for wedding ceremonies that take place in a holy setting, exposing the arms for the reception. And, who knows, we may be seeing this incorporated into bridesmaids dresses as well!

Photo credit: Natalie Schutt Photography

Hillside Vineyard

March 24, 2016 in Real Weddings, Wedding Decor, Wedding Planning

When my bride, Teryle, contacted me for the first time a month before her wedding, I hit the ground running. With all the vendors and decor to coordinate, the pressure to create a starry night began. The venue was settled in Valley Center, amongst acres of vineyards and lavender farms. So, with the help of lavender and twine, I was able to tie all the details together for this bride's wedding.

Once my bride sent me her dream tablescape, it was clear her theme was rustic elegance: wooden farm tables, burlap, and lace were a must. While most planners order basic wooden boxes, I reached out to a local artist who works with reclaimed wood, pulling away from the cookie-cutter flower boxes one can find on Pinterest. At the ceremony, guests were greeted with a glass of champagne.

After toasting to the newlywed couple, the guests entered cocktail hour, where Executive Chef Mark Kearney prepared his Wild Caught Raw Bar, consisting of coconut prawns, oysters, and pan-seared ahi-tuna. For dinner, guests sat amongst wooden farm tables. The menu before them displayed the chef's cuisine for the evening, each tied with lavender and twine. The lace and burlap table runners were anchored by mercury glass candles and, of course, the wooden flower boxes.

Leading to the dance floor, I continued the starlit theme by sinking birch twigs into large, glass cylinder vases with floating candles on top. At the end of this trail, I handcrafted a shoe sign, inviting guests to save their feet and shoes before dancing the night away. Once I witnessed the bride and groom dance under the starlit lights, I knew I completed this bride's dream.

Fallbrook Boda

March 18, 2016 in Real Weddings, Wedding Planning

When my first bride gave me a photo of her dream tablescape, I knew the exact tone she wanted her wedding to be: intimacy with a splash of Mexican culture. The venue matched this perfectly, as it was set at a hillside vineyard in Fallbrook. The subtle mixes of white and cream against pops of royal blue and rustic orange brought each table to life.

The ceremony, however, took place at the beach, with each bridesmaid's bouquet showcasing an array of seashells. The guests were greeted with my handcrafted shoe valet sign, at which point they could forfeit (and save) their shoes for the soft beach sand. The bridal party danced their way down the aisle, upon the bride's request, in cream, escorted by the groomsmen in navy blue. The flower girls, as well, offered seashells down the aisle as they preceded the bride. Following the ceremony, the bride and groom both released two white doves, symbolizing their union of love.

The reception site was settled upon a vineyard, where guests were immediately greeted by a mariachi band. On the tables laid a lantern surrounded by white, cream, and peach roses. The white lace tablecloths and blush napkins tied the whole scape together, with royal blue water glasses anchoring down the table. Lastly, the exact tiles my bride showed me stood as table numbers. To conclude the cocktail hour, the bride's father accompanied the mariachi band with a solo performance, bringing a smile to each guest.

Dinner featured an array of food, ranging from Italian, Mediterranean , and, of course, Mexican cuisine. The dessert bar, as well, provided just as many options, from cupcakes, cookies, macaroons, even cinnamon rolls - all perched on beautiful wooden tiers. I have to admit, I made myself several plates to try each one!

In between dancing, guests were inviting to sign, paint, and fingerprint numerous guest books. These were particularly fun to craft, as I knew they would bring joy to guests of all ages. While a traditional book and pen was provided, guests were also given a tree canvas to "leaf" a fingerprint, reflecting how large this couple's family tree had grown upon their marriage. Likewise, I painted small squares on another canvas, allowing guests to illustrate their love for the newly wed couple. To conclude the night, the couple was sent off with an aisle of glow sticks leading their way.

Love Wins

June 28, 2015 in Event Planning, Wedding Planning

as well as small businesses

Love Wins! As you have witnessed and heard, The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality, making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. This triumph, however, is not the only reason Americans are celebrating this weekend. Quartz recently published an article on how marriage equality is predicted to add $2.6 billion to the wedding industry alone.

So, caterers, florists, planners, bands, photographers, and all others involved in the industry, clear your schedules for the added marriages coming your way! In Texas alone, researchers have estimated that an upwards of 23,200 same-sex couples will tie the knot in the next three years. Those involved in the wedding industry in New York alone reported double the business after the state's passage of same-sex marriage in 2011.

Therefore, love was not the only thing that won this weekend, but small businesses as well :) .

In with the Old and Out with the New!

July 10, 2014 in Bridal Party Photos, Event Planning, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning

It is time to break the traditional wedding guidelines and expose a timeless procession. Young ones are cute to feature down the isle, but why stress over it if no one in mind seems to be in the traditional age group?

New York Times recently featured an article about a bride and groom who asked their grandmothers to fill the special role as the flower girl. Other brides have even gone to the extent of asking their grandmothers to be a bridesmaid! Don't believe me? Watch this video featuring three grandmothers who served as bridesmaids in their granddaughter's wedding. Perhaps this idea is too out-of-the-box for some couples, however, the change age could be exactly what your wedding ceremony needs.

Personally, I think each ceremony should be unique to each pair. And, if that means your grandmother is going to be scattering petals down the isle, then so be it!

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