Gowns: Painfully Breathtaking Creations by Mariana Hardwick
Posted by: Victoria Everman on: February 25, 2009
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If you are looking to have a truly romantic wedding, then a dress made by Australia’s Mariana Hardwick fits the bill.
I’ve seen far too many ballroom-style wedding gowns in my life and that will never be the style right for me. Mariana makes any gown style incredibly feminine yet ethereal and memorable.
Would I be able to actually afford one of her gowns? Doubt it, but one can dream! She has 5 different collections, and my 2 favorites are the brand new “Heirloom” collection and the “Garden of Earthly Delights” line.
My favorite gowns are shown below, though my all-time favorite is the very first one. It reminds of an old-world Italian Spring garden wedding.
Interesting fact: only 11 wedding gown shops in the United States carry Mariana’s line – one of those shops just happens to be in the same Connecticut town I live in. Is it destiny?
[Images courtesy of Mariana Hardwick]
Food: Gorgeous Desserts from Naomi, the Cupcake Ninja
Posted by: Victoria Everman on: February 23, 2009
One of the only things that my fiance and I have been disagreeing about is dessert for our wedding. He wants to have a traditional, three-tier wedding cake – I want to go more casual and have a cupcake tower.
I’ve shown him oodles of fantastic pictures of cupcakes, designed both for weddings and other special events, but he still hasn’t warmed up to the idea. His compromise is to have both, which is a great idea, but I doubt we will be able to afford it. I’ve been trying to talk him into a cupcake tower with a small, single tier cake at the top, but he’s still resisting.
When I think of cupcakes, one of the first innovative artists that comes to mind is Australia’s “cupcake ninja” – Naomi. Having come across her work years ago on flickr, I’m consistently oooh-ing and aaah-ing over every new creation she shares online.
Take a look!
I so wish she was closer to the United States – I’d hire in a heartbeat!
[Images couetey of hello naomi]
Gowns: Handmade Wedding Dresses
Posted by: Victoria Everman on: February 20, 2009
- In: Gowns
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Picking out a wedding dress is one of the most difficult wedding decisions - period. When you are trying to keep your budget small AND maintain environmental sustainability, the challenge nearly doubles in complexity.
Having already searched Etsy.com for everything else for the wedding, it comes as no surprise that I combed the crafty site for gowns as well. Below are a few of my favorites that I am actually considering for my special day.
[[[ Note: there are many many many more gown designs than just these, but I already have a style in mind, so my choices are easily narrowed. ]]]
By CiCiBridal – $550
“This dress can be made in any color combo. Shown in a gold an ivory combo. This will be made in your measurements when purchased.”
By CiCiBridal – $699
“‘Caroline’ is one of our newest creations with beautiful lace fitted with a flare! This dress shown in ivory but can be made in white as well. Convo if you would like any other changes.”
By CiCiBridal – $499
“One of a kind truly! Something unique and special for your wedding day, shown in ivory but can be made in white as well. This dress will be made in your measurements!”
By vrreis – $850
“Dupioni silk red dress, bustier top and full hem with train.”
Decor: Rustic, Vintage Items on Etsy
Posted by: Victoria Everman on: February 18, 2009
- In: Decor
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Thanks to a fun post from Style Me Pretty, I’ve become quite attached to the idea of using vintage milk bottles to hold the floral centerpieces at our reception.
It doesn’t seem like I’m going to have a hard time tracking them down either! Check out all of these choices from mysunshinevintage:
For an even more blatant vintage/rustic look, I could choose from the menagerie of vintage glass bottles and jars offered by atticeclectic:
_
Real Weddings: Lisa Bartlett and Brett Mitchell
Posted by: Victoria Everman on: February 16, 2009
Held right here in Connecticut, below are a few of my favorite elements from the wedding of Lisa Bartlett and Brett Mitchell, as featured on Brides.com.
At their lake-side ceremony, Brett’s parents escorted him down the aisle to a wrought-iron trellis where Lisa and her father met him soon after. “We scouted the land to find the best view,” says the bride of the trellis’s location on a grassy field overlooking the lake and forest.
Ceremony programs, crafted by Lisa with help from her sister, were made of brown recycled paper and ivory ribbon. By adorning their ceremony programs, cocktail napkins and wedding cake with a simple “M” (for Mitchell), the bride and groom tied together the elements without going overboard.
Pink cookie favors had a special message attached, letting guests know that a donation was made in each of their names to the American Cancer Society, an organization that’s meaningful to the couple.
[Images courtesy of Brides.com/Dasha Wright]
This image is from a different wedding on Brides.com, but I love the sign that the bride & groom made to describe/explain their non-assigned seating plan (which I want to do; Lisa and Brett also did this, but there was no good photo example).
[Image courtesy of Brides.com/Kiernan Conroy Klosek]
