Friday Favorites: Save the Date!

Happy Friday! This week we're looking at save the dates. Formal, cute, funny, sparkly, or otherwise representative of the soon-to-be newlyweds, these little cards serve as the first impression for upcoming nuptials. So, of course, they should be fabulous! [Sources are hyperlink-ed]

[SOURCE - normadorothy]

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[SOURCE - The House that Lars Built]

[SOURCE- hellolovepress]

[SOURCE - digibuddhaPaperie]

[SOURCE - TheRocheShop]

[SOURCE - DAYDREAMPRINTS]

Pixie Brides: Accessorizing Short Hair

When I cut my hair short for the first time, my best friend's main concern was, "What if you get engaged!?" At the time, I thought, "I'd have to grow my hair back out," but returning from the salon today, happy with my shortest crop yet, has me thinking "Why would I need long hair?" Though I'm not planning a wedding just yet, I've been having fun perusing bridal accessories for shorter hair with my new epiphany!

While a bride with a short style could still wear a long veil, securing it in 2 (or less) inches of hair may get tricky. Short hair under a long veil can also create a vintage look, which may or may not be what a bride is going for. And so the question is... what's a short-haired girl to do?!

Rock a Short Veil - A shorter veil means less weight, and a smaller chance that it will get tugged when hugging a billion people, thus making it easier to be and stay secured in a shorter 'do. A veil that comes closer to your hair length could also create a more streamlined, cohesive look.

1. Etsy: Bouquet By Rosa Loren
2. Etsy: Bella Bridal Veils
3. Sara Gabriel - Drew Veil

Top it off with a Glamorous Headband - The options are endless here - floral, bling, bows, you name it! Again, securing a headband is much easier than clips or barrettes. And you can keep the styling to a minimum. Pop a headband on a sleek bob or pixie, and you're done!

4. The Knot Blog
5. Dolly Couture
6. Wowhairstyle.com

Get Cagey - Another popular and vintage-inspired option is the birdcage. Simple and sweet and surprisingly versatile! While the fishnet style has more of a retro feel, a birdcage made of a closer-knit material can complement a formal dress and fit beautifully into an elegant celebration.

7. Ross Oscar Knight
8. Prettydesigns.com
9. Wedding Channel
10. French Wedding Style

If the bride is committed to making a long veil work, there are luckily a ton of beautiful options out there. A headband with veil attached at the bottom is a great way to work a long veil more easily!

StyleCaster

Friday Favorites: Naked Cakes

Another Friday came quickly! Today's focus is on naked cakes. As delicious as frosting is, something about these cakes is so appetizing. And they look beautiful all dressed up in flowers and fruit! Enjoy!

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Here Comes the... RANDY FENOLI!

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Big news! Randy Fenoli is coming to town! Yes, Randy from TLC's Say Yes to the Dress and Randy to the Rescue. Yes, Randy AKA Brandi Alexander: 1990's Miss Gay America! Yes, Randy who grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois and was dressing his mother by the age of 9, only to leave home at 16 and become a star of the wedding industry! YES!

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Technically, he's not coming my town, but to Champaign, IL, which is close enough to drive a few hours to see him! A friend and I already have tickets to the Refined Weddings Showcase, at which he'll be presenting. Apparently, that entitles us a meet-and-greet/photo-op with Randy himself. I am losing my mind from the excitement. If there is one person who has inspired me to chase my dreams of breaking into the bridal world, it's Randy. The showcase isn't until the end of September, but you can be sure I'll post all about it here. And if you love Randy as much as I do, don't miss out on snagging your own ticket!

GET TICKETS HERE

Designer Spotlight: 3 Reasons to love Hayley Paige

Hayley Paige seems to be everywhere these days. I followed the designer on Instagram without knowing much about her, and suddenly I realized that I was double-tapping a lot of wedding dress photos. These gowns are not only stunning, they're quite unique- the kind of dresses that are immediately recognizable. In a way much like Pnina Tornai's designs, they have such an identity that you know exactly who designed it with a mere glance. Here are three* reasons to love these dresses...

1. Ruffled layers for days. Girlfriend knows how to bring a skirt to life! Regardless of what silhouette you're looking for, if you've a flare for the dramatic, there's probably a Hayley Paige dress for you.

1. Dori [source]
2. Luca [source]
3. Petal [source]

2. Sexy, detailed, blinged-out straps. Strapless dresses don't work for everyone. Honestly, even if it looks good, a strapless dress can still be a huge pain in the ass if it's not fit absolutely perfectly. These straps alone are reason enough to dream of wearing one of Hayley's designs down the aisle.

4. Khalessi [source]
5. Sasha [source]
6. Hattie [source]

3. Fabulous fabrics. Hayley Paige designs frequently incorporate beautifully detailed fabrics and romantic textures that set them apart from other gowns. Her striped dresses are the most famed, but she's also been known to make magic floral lace.

7. Lana [source]
8. Guindon [source]
9. Conrad [source]

*Surely, there are many more reasons to love Hayley's work. For more Hayley Paige, check out http://www.jlmcouture.com/Hayley-Paige/Bridal.

Friday Favorites: Ceremony Spaces

Here's a new thing- Friday Favorites! Each week I'll post pretty wedding things that I enjoy. Because it's Friday and it's my blog...and maybe you'll think they're pretty, too.

This week's theme: unique ceremonies. Here are some fabulous spaces that are not found in a church, a beach, or a barn. Just divine!

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Sabrina Style

So many brides are inspired by Audrey Hepburn when picking out their wedding dresses. Obviously, she had such a classic style that it's still banging in 2014. We all know the iconic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's, but it wasn't until I recently watched Sabrina (1954) that I realized how much her style could inspire bridal fashion, even when she wasn't wearing a wedding gown.

Via IMDb

This Givenchy is a simply perfect tea length gown. Imagining it in white, ivory, or blush, isn't hard, and it would be a great fit for a vintage style wedding, without going over the top. Because it's so beautifully simple, it could easily be accessorized any way the bride should chose. I like to picture it with a delicate, beaded belt to add a little bit of glitz. 

Via IMDb

Via Etsy: EleganceByKate

Most recognizable from Sabrina is likely the embroidered gown she brings home after studying in Paris. A quick search online will show that this gown has already influenced quite a few wedding dress designs. Apart from being stunning, this dress is fabulous because of its unique structure. From the back it looks like a ballgown complete with a train, but from the front it's almost a ankle-length sheath. It has the best of both worlds - the drama and formality of a ballgown, but the ability to show off a pair of knock out shoes. Plus, one could imagine it'd be easier to walk in!

Via IMDb

 While Audrey and her fashion were amazing throughout Sabrina, the dress that caught my eye the most was actually worn by Elizabeth Taylor (Martha Hyer). Trying to find images online of this one was difficult, and I could barely get a screenshot good enough to show the sweetheart neckline. Though it can only be seen briefly at the first party scene in the film, it's a winner. The fanned neckline, dropped waist, and flowing skirt scream GLAMOUR! And if my eye didn't mistake me, later in the film Elizabeth can be seen wearing a similar, if not the same style, dress in black. Which is so telling, because when she's in white, she's being loved, and in the black is when her fiance is dancing with another woman. Oh the drama!

Via Flickr: milliemotts

Happy Birthday, Mr. President...

Happy birthday, Barack Obama! 53 never looked so good. Let's celebrate by taking a quick look at a couple photos from his and Michelle's special day!

Source: InStyle

Source: InStyle

And then there was the time Michelle wore this wedding-worthy Jason Wu masterpiece to the 2008 Inaugural Ball. Oh the appliqués! First Lady of Fabulous. 

Source: People

Seeing Stripes: Black and White Bridal Shower Inspiration

Having a theme can really make planning a shower easier. It provides parameters for decorations and aesthetics so that you aren't left randomly picking pretty things that might not look too pretty together. Themes can be as specific or general as you want, and it doesn't have to be kitschy like "under the sea," unless that's your thing.

Here's some inspiration for a black-and-white-striped theme. I particularly like this idea because you can totally make it your own, Paula Abdul style. Black and white matches everything. I'm all about the gold touches and pops of pink and purple, but you could literally do any accent color you like and it'll still look polished. You could even go a little nautical just by changing the black to navy, and adding an anchor here and there. Easy peasy!

[Below all images are hyper-linked sources!]

I'm offically obsessed with everything over at Digibuddha Paperie. Everything.

1. Layered Bake Shop
2. There for the Baking
3. Glamorous Spring Wedding by Something Turquoise

4. 100 Layer Cake Blog
5. Ruffled Blog
6. Wedding Chicks

7. BRIDES
8. Sweet Lulu
9. Design by Aubrey

10. Style Me Pretty
11. Party City
12. ClassicBanners Etsy

13. Game prizes!  Bath and Body Works
14. Zazzle
15. Digibuddha Paperie
16. The Posh Event Etsy