Telegraph & Brides.com

When I think of Kate Winslet, I immediately remember the mint-green Valentino gown that she wore to the 2007 Oscars. The asymmetric, one-shoulder gown has a sash that distinctly wraps across the chest and trails down the back. Similarly, the white Galina gown on the right is a one-shoulder, A-line gown that is draped across the chest. However, it is gathered near the neckline with a jeweled broach to add a bit of glamour to the simple, yet elegant dress.

Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester wore this white Nina Ricci dress to Piaget’s launch of its LImelight Paris-New York Collection in New York recently. The sweetheart neckline adds a more demure touch to the very mini hemline - a style that has been seen a lot on the wedding gown runways. Opt for this look if you want to avoid wearing a traditional formal gown or if you plan to have your wedding on a hot, summer day.

sources: style.com & brides.com

Courtney Gregoire, daughter of Gov. Chris Gregoire, and Scott Lindsay walk down the aisle lined with pink and orange rose petals in Olympia, Washington on August 9, 2008.

The wedding was held at Washington state’s century-old governor’s mansion.

Pictures: AP Photo
for La Vie Photography (thanks Michelle)

Photos: Hair piece from the knot - drink from foodnetwork - bridesmaid dress from david’s bridal - centerpieces from ivillage - invitation from Hello! Lucky

There’s something refreshing about this combination and it all stems from the lovely green color of the cymbidium orchids in the bride’s hair. To avoid a very ‘green’ looking wedding, I chose a champagne colored bridesmaid dress pulled from the color of the table cloths and an invitation that incorporated the two colors beautifully. The signature drink is an impressive “Summer Solstace Sake Sparkler” that will be unexpected by the guests, but sure to be a pleaser.

Below are the instructions on how to make the signature drink:

Summer Solstace Sake Sparkler
1 fresh basil leaf, chopped
6 fresh mint leaves
2 lemon twists
2 orange wedges
1/4 English cucumber, seeded and diced, very cold
1 1/2 ounces orange flavored liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)
Ice cubes
250 ml bottle sparkling sake

Put the basil, mint, lemon, orange, cucumber, and orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker. Add the ice, cover, and shake vigorously, or stir, until combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready when the shaker mists up.) Pour into a chilled Collins glass and top with the sparkling sake. Drop in a pair of chopsticks to pick out the cucumber and oranges, if desired. Drink.

New York Weddings recently sat down with wedding gown designer Elizabeth Fillmore and got a candid interview on what she thinks about current bridal fashion.

Who should brides bring along to gown-shop?
No one. Friends, mothers, sisters—it’s the danger zone. You’ll get sidetracked; you’ll get everybody else’s opinion but your own. Go to three stores. That should be your limit.

Tell me about your gowns.
I cut close to the body. I’m known for hourglass silhouettes, not ball gowns. Lace is one of my favorite materials to work with, from guipure to Chantilly. If I use beading, it’s extremely delicate, because unless it looks like fairy dust, it can get heavy.

To what degree is fashion influencing bridal attire?
When women see bold textures, pieces of bunched-up tulle, or really unique flowers used in wedding gowns, they’re not afraid of it.

What are you digging right now?
Sleeves. They add so much character and don’t have to look old-fashioned or mumsy. You can wear a jacket with a lantern sleeve over a sleek strapless gown.

Are you a wedding-gown purist?
I prefer shades of ivory instead of white. They’re more flattering, and if you can’t buy a “designer gown,” soft-ivory gowns look more expensive. Incorporating color is best done through the shoe.

What about a colored sash?
It chops the dress in half and draws attention to the wrong place. It’s a recent trend and I want it to go away. I think it already is.

Are you a fan of veils?
I love long, cascading, vintage-style veils. Sometimes a fingertip-length veil is better suited for a petite bride, as she may be overshadowed by all the tulle of a long cathedral veil. Tall girls look great in long veils, and some brides don’t need one. Tia Mazza designs beautiful veils and headpieces (she’s carried at Bergdorf Goodman).

How coordinated should the bridal party be?
I don’t like it when bridesmaids are all in the same black dress. Variation is prettier. They should be in dresses that relate in color scheme, all in the same fabric, but with different necklines.

What did you wear to your wedding?
It was at the James Burden Mansion on 91st and Central Park. I wore a fitted Chantilly-lace gown, and my husband wore a white tie and tails. We wanted something that felt out of the late 1800s. If I did it again, I’d wear something more avant-garde. I’m a Gemini, so I’d probably wear two.

Ah, the “scene change.”
Love it. Some of my brides do change into another dress after the ceremony. It’s pretty extravagant.

Especially because brides never wear the dress—or, dresses—again.
Oh, I always tell girls to throw a Champagne party and to ask all their friends to come in their wedding gowns.

elizabethfillmorebridal.com

Here are a couple of her designs:

All from brides.com

Colors: White & Light Blue

Season: Summer Reception

Centerpieces: Clear vases of delphinium, sweet pea, hydrangeas, and tulips wrapped in ribbon

Cake: Pearlized vanilla rolled-fondant icing with appliquéd sugar decorations

Candles: Blue translucent glass with white votives

This vintage inspired bridal ensemble came about after I had recently posted the above pink floral bouquet with hanging pearls strung throughout. In fact, after going through some of the 2008 runway collections, a noticable trend was the layering of multiple sets of long pearls along with vintage-like, lace gowns. The birdcage veil seen above is similar to the ones worn by jessica alba while filming The Fantastic Four and Katherine Heigl at her recent wedding to Josh Kelley. Finally, to complete the bridal ensemble, carry a beaded vintage clutch or coin purse.

Finally! I’ve been waiting for the new Ok! magazine to come out, as the mag paid an estimated £2.5 million for the photo rights. So here they are, all 26 pages…(this is gonna take up all my uploading space), but it’s worth it.

Location: La Cervara abbey in Portofino, Italy
Dress: McLoughlin wore a £100,000 Marchesa wedding gown.
Total Cost of the Wedding: £5 million
The rings: £1m rings
Side notes: Each guest was given a butterfly-engraved box containing a set of rosary beads.

Rooney, 22, said of the moment he saw his bride walk down the aisle: “It was weird when I first saw her, it’s such a big moment. I felt really choked actually and I thought she looked so stunning.”

McLoughlin added: “I was just nervous about whether Wayne would like my dress, but luckily he said I looked lovely.”

The decore at the recent American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball Fundraiser included teal linens and mirrored boxes filled with fresh pink roses. The flower boxes were placed side by side and extended the center length of each table. Candles were scattered throughout in glass cubed holders, in addition to the black and white accents of the plates and napkins.

You would never think that these colors would work together, but when I created this color swatch I was pleasantly surprised.

source

How many of you still have lots of paint chips left over from deciding on what color to paint your homes?

Here are two unique ways to use these left over pieces for your wedding, while being eco-chic in the process.

Designers for the tables at Diffa’s Dining by Design event this week in New York innovatively used paint chips for decoration. Here, Vicente Wolf used paint chips as napkin rings and scattered other colorful chips across the table surface.

Always eco-friendly Daily Danny cut the paint chips into circles and tied them onto wine glasses with guest names.

…

Other uses: name cards & floral arrangements - ONLY for the crafty, or else it might look juvenile..

from Diffa’s Dining by Design event