Pink & Purple Modern Eclectic Chicago Wedding

Jan 8th

by: Lauren

I know I usually post inspiration shoots on Tuesdays, but today, I was so inspired by this wedding from Kristin LaVoie Photography, that I wanted to share it instead! A bright and bold color palette of pink and purple, a modern, eclectic style, and some fabulous details- I just absolutely HAD to share it with you all!

[Note: This wedding was originally featured on Style Me Pretty Chicago.]

Aren’t those colors fabulous together? I’m a little obsessed with the bridesmaids’ dresses, in case you didn’t notice by the tons of images I included!

So, what do you think of this wedding? Has it inspired you as much as it’s inspired me?

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Kristin LaVoie Photography / Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Yellow Diamond Events / Reception Venue: Pazzo's at 311 / Band: We, Unity Candle / Invitations & Stationery: TamTam Design / Flowers & Decor: Pollen / Bride’s Dress: Jacquelin Exclusive Bridal Collection / Hair & Makeup: VIP Chicago Brides / Cake Baker: Tipsy Cake,

Tuesday Tips: Wedding Dress Style 101

Category: 1 Comments

Jan 8th

by: Lauren

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What’s one of the very first things that you do once you get that sparkly engagement ring on your finger? Chances are probably pretty good that it was either start looking online at wedding dresses, or flipping through the countless photos of dresses that grace the pages of a wedding magazine. Well, that’s what I did at least! Now I always say not to start looking for your wedding dress until you have your venue secured, but for some, it’s just a total and complete priority. However, you definitely don’t want to start your wedding dress search without a little knowledge! I’ve asked Megan, the owner of Malindy Elene Couture Bridal, to share some wedding dress shopping tips with us today so that you’re able to walk into a bridal salon knowing a little more about what you’re looking for!

Written by Megan Bubalo, Owner of Malindy Elene Couture Bridal

When it comes to shopping for a wedding gown, finding that perfect shape, and knowing fabrics for your wedding gown, most girls are totally stumped! Well if you are one of those girls, you’re not alone! We’ve broken down some of the terms you will hear on your first shopping trip, as well as the things that will help you describe to your bridal stylist what exactly you are looking for in your dress.

Let’s start with the most important part of your gown- and the thing that will make your dress a “statement”- the FIT! Finding the perfect dress for your body type is imperative.

Below are 5 of the most common wedding dress fits…

Ballgown: These will be your most full options- the typical princess moment! They’ll come in every form imaginable; covered in crystals, very detailed with lace or even simple satin.

Ballgown Wedding Dresses by Anne Barge

A-line: This will be fitted at the waist but nearly as full elsewhere. Think of the way the literal letter “A” looks, and you’ve got yourself an a-line!

A-Line Wedding Dresses By Ivy & Aster and Augusta Jones

Fit and Flare: These dresses are “fitted-ish”. These are going to be fitted over your waist and partially over your hips, but not all the way to the knee. Fit and flare dresses are usually ideal for most body types. Even the girls that think they cannot do a “fitted” dress look spectacular in these gowns!

Fit and Flare Wedding Dresses by Badgley Mischa and Augusta Jones

Mermaid: This is for the girl who wants something super fitted and sassy! Expect to show off your booty a bit in these style gowns! These will be the most fitted all the way to almost the knees, and very form fitted in shape.

Mermaid Wedding Dresses by Reem Acra and Anne Barge

Sheath: This shape is the typical “beach” look- very flowy and organic. The dress doesn’t have much shape to it on it’s own: it relies on your own shape to give it a figure. This type of dress will most likely be very “light weight”.

Sheath Wedding Dresses by Ivy & Aster and Reem Acra

Next we have the different wedding dress necklines…

Sweetheart neckline. This will have a slight dip in the middle (making it a heart shape… see what I did there: “sweetheart neckline”). Some sweetheart necklines are deeper than others- just be sure to keep the cleavage “grandparent appropriate”!

Sweetheart Neckline Wedding Dresses by Anne Barge’s Blue Willow and Badgley Mischka

Scoop neckline. Again, this neckline pretty much describes itself. This will just have a slight dip, but without the point that the sweetheart has.

Straight across neckline. These are a bit harder to find, but they are beautiful for a girl who has a larger bust and wants some extra coverage!

Scoop neckline dress by Augusta Jones, Straight neckline dress by Birnaum & Bullock

Other neckline terms you may hear:

Capsleeves

Dress by Reem Acra, image via The Bride’s Diary

Lace keyhole back

Dress by Anne Barge

Lace build up

Dress by Augusta Jones

So now that you know all the wedding dress style “lingo”, you’re all set to go dress shopping! You just have one more key thing to remember: be open to things you may not necessarily think you’ll like… gowns always look and feel different when they are on your body!

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Some of you may already be familiar with my own wedding dress shopping horror story, but if you’re not, you can go read all about it here. I am convinced that if I had done my research accurately and completely, I wouldn’t have had such a bad experience. But instead, I got wrapped up in the *act* of going dress shopping, and didn’t stop to think about the styles that I liked. So friends, take this information, and use it to find the wedding dress that will be perfect for you!

Have any of you already purchased your wedding dress? What style will you be wearing? I want to hear ALL about it! :)

Peach and Pink New Jersey Wedding

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Jan 7th

by: Joelle

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Happy Monday friends! It’s been a while since my last post here on ELD, but I’m excited to be back. I have a beautiful wedding for all of you today, complete with the most gorgeous bride! I may not be traditional in every way, but I have a serious soft spot for veils, especially the one that this pretty lady is wearing. There’s just something so romantic and sweet about it all, don’t you think?

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Greg, my husband, was amazing. He let me do all of the fun and creative things and he did all the grunt work. We came up with the vision for the day together, and he wanted to make sure I wasn’t overwhelmed, so he made all of the price comparison phone calls, got all the paperwork together, etc.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

We wanted to stick to our budget! We enlisted friends all over the place to help us and did a ton of the details ourselves.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

We had a morning wedding and a brunch reception, which we loved! Since we were doing it earlier in the day, we didn’t want the event to feel stuffy or overly formal. We wanted it all to be beautiful and classic, but just in a lighter, airy way. The peach and pink color scheme nailed down the details we used.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

That we got married! Aside from the obvious, I loved that we got married in the church that my late mother attended while in college. The church is aesthetically beautiful, but it was even better for us because it tied into my mom’s history. We wanted to include something to honor her, and we thought that this was a subtle but meaningful way to do it.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

I think it’s twofold. In the planning process, you have to realize that this is not the last party you will ever throw. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself! The color scheme does not have to perfectly reflect exactly who you are as a couple and always will be. That’s a lot of expectations for one party. Second, during the actual day, be mentally and emotionally present during the ceremony. The party is fun, and it’s so great to be with all your friends and family celebrating, but the main event of the day is the ceremony. Those promises are so important, and Greg and I are both so glad we really feel like we we’re 100% there when we said them.

I always love when brides and grooms know the true importance of a wedding, and I can really see that here. From every handmade detail, to the love on their faces, everything about this is sweet and true. Oh, and I love the peaches on the tables! This is definitely a great way to start 2013, I just have to say!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: Meg Brock Photography / Flowers & Decor: Sunnywood Florist / Reception Venue: Mountain Lakes House / Ceremony Venue: Princeton Presbyterian / Bridal Salon: David's Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anne Taylor / Men's Attire: Joseph A Banks

Eclectic Vintage-Inspired Wedding Florida Wedding

Category: REAL WEDDINGS 2 Comments

Jan 7th

by: Elisa

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Happy 2013! It’s my first post of the year, and boy is it a good one! I adore all the mismatched, whimsical, personal details this couple brought to their wedding. It feels so intimate and joyful! And the photos by Pilster Photography make me feel like I’m a part of the celebration (especially those awesome party shots!). Hilights to look for: family photos tied to floral arrangements, lanterns hanging in trees, super cute crown-topped cupcakes (since the couple’s last name is “Noble”), and the makings of a guestbook quilt!

From the bride:

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

Our wedding was vintage inspired. We scoured the city for mismatched glass bottles, glass cake stands, old hat boxes and frames. We did not want matchy-matchy or for anything to look too planned. Our goal was for it to look like someone grabbed some beautiful bottles they had laying around, put some gorgeous flowers in them, decorated with a few special items and decided to have a party. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and “at home” that day.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

The most important thing to both of us was that the people we worked with were people we could relate to and were comfortable with. Having said that, experience was also very important. We wanted to work with individuals who knew what they were doing so that we wouldn’t be the ones that ended up holding their hands! We read online reviews on each vendor which was very helpful.

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

We would have to say that the on-site wedding coordinator at the Post Card Inn, Briana Browning, as well as our day-of planner, Lana Kepler, helped us the most as far as planning the day. They were there for us every step of the way. No question was too small and no issue too large. We trusted them from the start and they handled everything professionally and thoughtfully throughout the entire journey. My Mom was also a wonderful help. She kept me grounded and we bounced ideas off of each other constantly. We didn’t argue once!

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

It is so hard to pick a favorite thing about our wedding!! Aesthetically, it’s a tie between the flowers, the family pictures and the quilt “guest book”. For the flowers, we had 3 or 4 bottles of various sizes on every table filled with a few flowers and herbs. The family photos were spread out around the welcome table and were a complete hit! We had every married family member send us either their own wedding picture or a favorite. We then had either group pictures or single shots for the rest. Every family member was represented and since the groom comes from a HUGE family it was quite a feat! We were so glad we went through the trouble though because everyone really enjoyed it. The quilt was wonderful as well. We cut fabric squares and laid out fabric markers for the guests so they could sign them. My Aunt Patti then created us a beautiful quilt that we will cherish and use forever!

Not aesthetically speaking, our favorite part was the party. The dance floor was packed the entire time and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The Groom has some American Indian in his background, so the traditional dance was so exciting. To see Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins around us on their knees slapping the ground and then jumping up to dance was a memory neither one of us will ever forget.

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Relax and give yourself time to think. I know it sounds cliche but it’s true. The day will be perfect because you are marrying your best friend. Stressing about every little detail will drive you crazy! So make lists, ask for help from bridesmaids, family, etc., hire some great people that you can trust and don’t sweat the small stuff. We had over a year to plan our wedding, which was wonderful. I think so many brides feel pressure to get married within a year of their engagement and that doesn’t always give them the time to make decisions on details, think about it and then change their mind if they want to. Just remember what is important and above all else, enjoy the ride.

I am always a huge fan of using photographs at a wedding – but it’s the first time I’ve seen them tied to the floral arrangements! What creative ways do you have for using personal photos at your wedding?