Flower-Inspired Fashion: Orchids in Autumn

Cultivate a rarified air with luxury fashion, beauty treasures and exquisite accessories, inspired by the most mystical flower. Orchids always make an impact. These delicate hothouse blooms are sought after by brides for the exotic beauty and sense of grandeur they bring to arrangements and bouquets. When Pantone named Radiant Orchid the color of 2014, designers, florists and decorators embraced the bright, flattering hue. This fall, orchids appear in deeper and softer shades. Pack dark, feminine floral prints, sculptural adornments and a seductive new fragrance for a romantic city weekend away. You’ll be radiant.

1. Orchid print cotton dress by Givenchy.
2. Crème Smooth Lip Color in Royal Orchid, by Laura Mercier.
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Planning & Inspiration

Elegant Wearable Tech

by admin

Wearable technology had a breakthrough month. Apple Watch was unveiled and is on display at Colette Paris. Fashion week in New York launched collaborations between designers including Rebecca Minkoff and Tory Burch, with technology companies, to create accessories with communication capabilities and features to track fitness and interact with wearer’s smartphones.

We believe “wearable tech” is “wedding tech.” Brides and wedding pros tend to be early adopters of technology and tools that streamline planning, encourage creative design and make it simple to record and share memories. (Remember the first Google Glass bride?) This season, editors and audiences have noticed a difference that will get the wedding crowd’s attention: style. Luxury materials and chic lines may soon give hi-tech brides the chance to geek-out while looking wedding perfect. Read More

Weddings

In Perfect Harmony: Musicians Getting Married

by admin

From the night Alison and Alistair met, they have been — literally– making beautiful music together. There is something so romantic about artists who fall in love through their creative work, and begin to collaborate. This lush wedding at New York Botanical Garden was one of our summer favorites. Bride Alison tells their love story:

“My husband Alistair and I are both professional musicians. He is a cellist and I am an opera singer. In August of 2010 we were hired to make a promotional recording for an opera that we would perform a year later. The evening started out with a large group of people and we recorded the group numbers. As the night progressed, more and more singers and instrumentalists were released, leaving just a very small group, including me and my husband, who was just a mysterious, smiley, excellent cellist stranger to me at the time. We recorded the final number of the night, a very dramatic aria sung by me, with Alistair playing a very prominent, collaborative role.
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Planning & Inspiration

Solar Ring from Van Cleef & Arpels

by admin

From Van Cleef & Arpels’ new Peau d’Âne collection, the exquisite Solar Ring is crafted in yellow gold, and features a 16ct cushion-cut yellow sapphire, surrounded by smaller sapphires and diamonds.

The jewels in this collection tell the story of classic French fairy tale, Peau d’Âne, which was made into a 1970 film starring Catherine Deneuve. Radiant with the golden light of the sun, this ring is part of the Happy Marriage chapter of the tale told in gems, and would make an extraordinary anniversary gift. See more here.

Weddings

Perfection in The Poconos

by Rachel Trimarco

So many charming details came together to make Stephanie and Andrew’s wedding really special. This couple seemed destined for a perfectly romantic wedding from day one.

“I am an NYC girl who somehow managed to find a southern boy in this big city,” said Stephanie. “We met almost five years ago, at Mercury Bar, on Valentine’s day! Since then we’ve been inseparable. Andrew proposed last April, at Machu Picchu in Peru.”

“Andrew is from Virginia, and I grew up going to the Pocono Mountains, as my parents own property there. We wanted a country wedding and found a beautiful lake resort in Reeders, Pennsylvania, called Mountain Springs Lake Resort.”
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Planning & Inspiration

Live Event Painters Make Your Wedding a Work of Art

by Elianna Phelps

theeventpainter.com

Now that digital technology makes documenting and sharing every wedding detail simple and expected, couples who crave a classic touch hire live event painters to capture celebrations on canvas in real time. Of course wedding paintings actually predate photography. In many cultures, couples sat for formal portraits which became family heirlooms. Today’s live paintings are sure to be just as cherished.

The event painting trend began to emerge about a decade ago, gathered speed due to social media, and grew exponentially after a piece in the New York Times.

wedoncanvas.com

Painters meet first with the couple to understand their taste and preferences. As anyone working in the wedding industry knows, customization is vital. That said, individual painters each have their own style. Some artists depict realistic detail and color, while others produce more stylized work. My personal favorites leave faces and tables somewhat blurred, capturing the happy rush of the dance floor, and let recognizable glimpses emerge: a bridesmaid’s posture, or the play of candlelight against floral centerpieces in glass. Read More

Planning & Inspiration