Blogs

News Flash! The November/December issue hit the newsstands a couple of weeks ago, and in case you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to pick up a copy.

The issue is chock full of fantastic ideas for your wedding—you’ll find everything you need from gorgeous gowns to the perfect honeymoon destination. In one of my favorite features “Taming The Big Bad Budget,” you’ll discover invaluable tips on how to plan a beautiful wedding without spending a fortune. Now doesn’t that sound intriguing?

We also know how overwhelming wedding planning can be (hmmm, who should be on the guest list, how many bridesmaids should I have, when do I send out invitations) so we put together “The A to Z Planning Guide” and a “Countdown Calendar”. Trust me, you will be so glad to have all the details spelled out for you.

If you’re still dress shopping, take a look at the incredible fashions in “Summer of Love” and “Some Like It Hot”:

Every company or industry has a busy season. For accountants, it’s the weeks before the April 15th tax deadline, for retailers it’s the holiday season when many stores will open at 7 a.m. so consumers can shop-‘til-they drop until midnight! For bridal magazines, the busiest times are the months of April and October when editors book back-to-back appointments for several weeks in order to see the newest, most fantastic items in the tabletop industry as well as gorgeous gowns in the bridal fashion industry. In fact, around the BG hallways you’ll often hear someone say “I’m off to market” and we know exactly what she means.

This past week I’ve been out covering the Tabletop market with Weddings and Home Editor, Aimée Morgan. Whenever I walk into these showrooms I’m tempted to throw out everything I now use at home and start fresh (and I also wish I lived in a great big house with lots and lots of cabinet space! Oh well, one can dream…). We saw beautiful displays of dinnerware, stemware and flatware that will soon be in the stores and ultimately on your registry lists. You’re sure to find something to suit your taste whether it’s bold colors, graphic designs, botanical prints or art deco. The hardest part is deciding just what you want. So with registry lists on my mind, here are a few tips to help get you started:

Have you ever wondered how some of your favorite stars celebrate before the big day? You’d me amazed how similar their parties are to those thrown by regular folks like you and me!

I thought it might be fun to share some of our favorite celebs’ pre-wedding celebrations. They may have money, but they don't always need to splurge on everything! With the right food and beverages, along with some sexy tunes to shake your bootie, you too can party like a celeb—trust me!

Josh Duhamel and Fergie decided to combine their bachelorette and bachelor parties and invited 75 of their friends for dinner and dancing at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica. This is pretty much what most couples today are doing before the main event. The days of celebrating with just the girls are a thing of the past for many. Some brides and grooms even have couples showers thrown for them. Having one big party together allows everyone to hang loose and just be around the ones they care about in a fun environment. No matter how much you have to splurge or where you go, the most important thing is celebrating with the people you know and love!

Rather than having just one big night together, some stars opt to spread the festivities out over a few days. When Britney Spears and Kevin Federline got married, Britney kicked off the wedding weekend with a bachelorette bash at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel while Kevin and his friends decided to have dinner at a nearby Houston’s restaurant. Although the evening started with each group doing their own thing, they all ended the night together with a party at the hotel. The next day they split up again for some relaxing fun—the girls went to the Burke Williams spa and the guys hit the links.

Ann Taylor just opened a wedding & events store to their online site. We love the glamorous jewelry they offer at great prices!!! The perfect accessories to complement your big-day look! The pavé ball drop earrings ($45) and the crystal bib necklace ($55) were some of our favorites:

Getting the right look, just got easier...find more at anntaylor.com.

Posted by Naima at 4:07 p.m.

All the buzz is about upcoming designer Jorge Manuel!

Jorge Manuel just showed a breathtaking collection at market. His artistic designs feature rosettes, box pleats, incredible silhouettes and delicate embroidery. His designs are a beautiful marriage of artistry and feminine grace. Jorge grew up in Miami and began his journey into bridal at age 15 when he designed a wedding. By age 16 he became a popular wedding planner within the Hispanic community of Miami (actually opening his own event company!) By age 17 he designed his first wedding gown.

As you can see from the pictures, this is a designer to watch...

Check out more at jorgemanuelweddings.com.

Posted by Naima at 3:49 p.m.

Being your own wedding planner just got easier!

The Dessy Group just unveiled a brand new bridesmaid line in association with Pantone--the leading authority on color. At their website you can create inspiration boards and develop the color theme for your wedding. (Here at Bridal Guide, we had a great time creating inspiration boards on their website). Once you have defined your vision and color palette, Dessy has an adorable line of dresses all in official Pantone colors! With a mapped out color theme, the rest of your planning is as easy as 1-2-3!! Check out their website at dessy.com/PANTONE and start creating your own inspiration boards!

Posted by Naima at 3:39 p.m.

Recently I met the girls from Sara Gabriel Veiling & Headpieces, and I must say they are a veil company you must check out! The veils and headpieces are each so original and fashion forward. Now, admittedly my snapshots do not do these veils justice, but trust me these veils are really gorgeous! If you can imagine, they have over 100 veils and each one unique and special. With this many options, you are bound to find the veil or headpiece that expresses your individual style. I also really love their headbands—there is a darling headband made with Alencon lace and silk ribbon, or a divine feather headband that will make you feel like the star of Swan Lake.
Check out saragabriel.com.

Posted by Naima at 3:14 p.m.