good things for the new year celebration!

goodness sakes...2009 already...i'm getting old :) okay not really, but time is just crazy fast and life is just too busy sometimes! i hope all of you have a wonderful new years eve. and here is a little martha stewart to help inspire a fantastic new year party and a wonderful wedding celebration! check here for how-to details!

your blog is fabulous!

i am flattered to have been tagged by bride chic with the "your blog is fabulous" award!
thank you!

the rules: list 5 obsessions/addictions that you have, and tag back to the person who gave you the award. post the rules. tag 5 more people!

1. cheese and coffee. yes, i know, strange perhaps, especially if put together...but seperately they are my favorite food and drink :)

2. fashion. ooh, of course fashion, shopping, clothing...can't get enough.

3. clean freak. i am one of those who can't go to sleep if there are any dishes in the sink, toys on the floor, or if my couch pillows are arranged properly. i know, it's a problem :)

4. house design. ever since i married my husband 2 years ago, i have been inspired by his house building dreams (plus he is a project manager for a commercial contractor out a nike) and have caught the design bug! i loved designing the little home we are in now and hope to design more!

5. staying fit. of course i like to stay in shape so i can eat my cheese, but i love to work hard and get the sweat out! definitely therapeutic for me and a must.

who's next for the "your blog is fabulous award"??

1. lucky me!

2. the little things.
3. santa barbara wedding chic blog
4. zinke design blog
5. m.a. belle

thanks again, bride chic!

fuchsia, orange, & gold

{rustic pears--perfect bound blog}
{elizabeth fillmore bridal gown}
{colorful bouquet--brides.com}
{diamond pin--kwiat jewelry}
{stewart weitzman heels--santa barbara chic blog}
{chic rustic tablescape--instyle weddings}

good morning and happy monday, ladies! i hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Christmas! i had all intentions of doing a Christmas post but i honestly had NO time! baking and cooking, snow and ice, family time, schedule coordination, pregnancy swelling... (i'm sure you wanted to know that), well it obviously just didn't happen. we had a great Christmas celebration with family and are so thankful for all that we have been given. and i thank you, wedding fresh readers for taking the time to visit, write, and comment. i am very appreciative for all of you! and feel free to comment or write more, i love to meet you and get to know you!!

so if you haven't had the time to check out the article written by our fashion consultant, amy-jo from bride chic, you NEED to! especially if you are a bride who wants to save money and look like a million bucks, amy-jo's insight on the fine art of customizing a bridal gown will be so very helpful. thank you, thank you amy-jo!!! you are fantastic, lady!

for today i have a fantastically colorful, chic inspiration board--all this winter is finally melting and i am in desperate need for some foliage and bursts of warm color. i love the feel of the gold, orange, and pinks--this bouquet has such beautiful texture with crab apples, berries, and roses. and not to mention, i have been lusting over this elizabeth fillmore gown for quite a while now. gorgeous!

winter inspiration

so this is what i need right now: one big, warm parka to cover all the essentials and not to mention, looking good doing it :) ice, snow, freezing rain and repeat. that has been the story around these parts! great shot, huh? i found this on lenorenevermore--love it!

here is a winter tablescape idea from black*eiffel.

i saw this diy rock candy bling on once wed...how great is this? and not to mention simple, easy, and cost effective!!! check it out here for the step-by-step instructions for your own chandelier!

and now, a lovely, romantic tablescape that makes me think of close friends and good conversation all night long... :)

THE FINE ART OF CUSTOMIZING A BRIDAL GOWN

Hi Everyone and happy holidays! I'm Amy-Jo Tatum, editor of Bride Chic and I'm so happy to be guest blogging here at Weddings Fresh. Today we're talking fashion. Since my last visit back in Fall when we explored trends, so much has happened . . . We're going through changes in leadership as well as the economy that will influence everything we do from buying gas to getting married. One big change in the wedding arena is . . . Brides are searching for new ways to economize while keeping their 'chic factor' going . . .

Sposabella

More are opting for the simple budget-conscious gown then taking it to the dressmaker or designer to get it personally customized. So how is customizing your gown different than a custom made gown? A custom gown is made from scratch, that is, you and the designer working with a pattern and raw cuts of fabric to create it from the ground up. Customizing a ready-made gown is different. It involves remodeling and/or embellishing one already put together. It can be store bought, sewn or inherited as long as it's fairly basic and free of mass adornment. However you come by owning this gown, once it's finally delivered suppose you plan on adding a detachable train to the waist and heirloom lace to the bodice. Those two details if integrated, would make the gown ideal, distinctively yours. Customized.

Isaac Mizrahi for Target
THE GOWN

Remember, the whole premise is you start with a basic dress and work from there . . . . . . . So where to shop for this basic dress if you don't have one? Check out the one above. I'd have to say Isaac and Target got this 100% silk Harlowesque number right on target (no pun intended) at a shocking $64.99."No way!" you say. But you heard it right: that's $64.99. Heck, and I thought it was a helluva steal at 129.00 before it went on sale. And admit it, accessorizing this little stunner would be a pleasure with its endless possibilities . . . which, my dear, is up to you now . . .
Below are some simple gowns in 100% silks by known designers that would make great starting points for a customized gown.

Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller
J. Crew

J. Crew has been on fire the past couple seasons, bringing out classically cut gowns in high quality fabric with lower than norm price tags. With a combo like that how can they miss?

J. Crew

J. Crew

J. Crew

J. Crew

Ann Taylor

Here's Ann Taylor's classic strapless A-line Deb Dress all ready to be adorned.

THE EMBELLISHMENTS AND ALL THOSE DESIGN DETAILS

Finding how to integrate all the design details you want isn't all that difficult. If you're going through one of those decision dilemmas just log onto Etsy and shop for ideas. Their designers have developed some of the most beautiful accessory and design attachments beyond anything you'll ever run across in any salon or boutique. On Etsy you'll find boleros, shoulder swags, lace collars, detachable over skirts, blouses and-- believe it or not--these lovely angel wings?. . .

EPS Studios

Amy-Jo Tatum


Who says you can't have it both ways. This is a basic dupioni sheath under a full skirt of silk tulle that hooks on and off easily.

Rosangela Pappalepore

This gorgeous shoulder swag of pink rosettes suddenly turns this strapless bodice asymmetrical and
stunning.

source

This lace over blouse is a beautiful addition to a strapless sheath. While lace is expensive, with the right designer, a little bit can go a long way . . . .

Amy-Jo Tatum

The above creation was a pleasure to customize. The gown is a simple sheath with criss-cross straps. The addition is a silk organza train dappled in rose petals and silk florals

MinnaK

Suddenly a strapless sheath becomes a portrait collar with this beautiful organza and rose shawl.

FINDING HELP

The biggest concern most prospective clients have is, "How and where do I find expert help?" Start within your own network. You've heard the best place to find someone is through word of mouth. Usually referals come from guests actually getting a close up look at the bride's dress at a wedding. Sometimes it's a tight network of friends passing info on, other times a friend knows a friend who knows a friend.
SALONS. Bridal salons and specialty stores sometimes employ custom designers or dressmakers either in house or as outside contractors. Depending on how they are set up, sometimes they’ll give a referral if it doesn’t interfere with the flow of their business.
There are a few salons, typically the boutiquey smaller ones,that will do some sort of customizing if you buy a gown there. My final words on this: Customizing is better left to specialists and sometimes a salon can recommend you to one. If you plan on customizing once your gown is delivered, get advise on whether the alterations should be factored in with the price of customizing

CONSUTLTANTS. Bridal consultants or planners are an excellent source of referrals and usually know who’s truly expert in the area by years of working with them. Some consultants are willing to work on an hourly basis or for a small referral fee.
FASHION EDITORS. Fashion or wedding section editors in regionals can be helpful if you reach them directly or run across their editorials on bridal wear. Most newspapers feature a spread on weddings twice a year. Here, private designers and dressmakers are sometimes featured or listed. Ask for back issues.
YELLOW PAGES. Before the internet, this used to be the first and last place people look. After word of mouth, this is the best and easiest way to find a dressmaker (not designer) in my opinion.

PRICE

I wanted to get another designer's opinion on this and I'm glad I did. Lena Kanter of Kanter Fashion Design Studio in Chagrin Falls, Ohio specializes in formal and bridal wear. When I asked what she'd charge for a detachable train, she claims her price would depend on the type fabrics used and degree of complexity of the customization. Some are so intricate with rows of unusual pleating or say, layers of inside crinolines; the cost could run neck and neck with some higher end wedding gowns; others like the photo above that I've done are simpler, panels of gathered organza attached to a cluster of purchased silk florals. That particular customization cost my client about $375.00 (excluding fabric). Shoulder swags, lace overlays, gauntlets and collars run a little less, again depending on the detail of the customization.

Finally, once you're through customizing your gown, you'll get that first glimpse of yourself in the mirror. What you'll see yourself in is the equivalent of a custom made gown, one-of-its-kind and like no other in the world . . . yours.

gown friday!

it's still a winter wonderland here! oh it's so much fun! though we have kind of been on lock-down because of all the ice, i don't mind the slowing of pace and the time to just be at home with my little man and my big man :) so i leave you this week with judd waddell's fall 2009 collection. i have always enjoyed his ad campaigns, but also his ball gowns. silk ribbon and pleats on his gown are just wonderful touches.

and just a reminder: our very own fashion consultant amy-jo from bride chic will be visiting us next week with some absolutely fabulous tips for customizing your wedding gown. she was with us last time updating us on this coming year's bridal fashion trends and i have been dying to have her back! i get so many questions and concerns from brides regarding customizing their gowns and amy-jo has some great insights that every bride should know! see you on monday!

{source}

winter white bouquets

{martha stewart}

ooh, i absolutely love these bouquets above! stunning and perfect for a winter wedding. there is nothing more classic than an all white bouquet. i so desperately wanted a winter wedding all my childhood. i loved the romance of the snow fall, the glow of the candles in frosted windows, and having a glamorous ball gown to dazzle my guest--funny what you dream up when your in grade school :) i of course got married in august, in a vineyard, and it was over one hundred degrees...BUT i still love winter weddings!

{brides.com}

real wedding: jessica claire photography

i love the feel of this wedding--as it is a combination of the gorgeous couple themselves and the beautiful photography of jessica claire, there is a sense of ease and peaceful elegance in this wedding. and that bouquet? stunning!