First Look Photos: This Magic Moment

First Look photos have become a popular trend in wedding photography over the past few years. Couples are often unsure whether they want these sneak peak shots. There is a common expectation that the groom will first see his bride’s dress as she walks toward him down the aisle and if that moment has been built up in wedding fantasies, it’s hard to let go. Of course, cultural traditions vary. In Jewish weddings, for example, the couple gathers with a witness, before the ceremony, to sign their ketubah. For Jewish couples, documenting the First Look may feel more natural.

Image by Aaron & Jillian

Planning & Inspiration

Favorites From Wedding Crashers in Brooklyn

by admin

Image by David Juliet

Wedding Crashers, a Brooklyn wedding fair at the Wythe Hotel, introduced us to new vendors and inspired us with creative ideas. This event emphasized handcrafted and unique touches to bring a personalized, vintage-modern feeling to weddings. Sustainable design and responsibly sourced ingredients and materials were hot topics at the fair, but didn’t pull focus from what couples always look for: charming, elegant and sentimental ways to express their love and taste. Here are a few of our favorite things from the fair.

Bario-Neal
Handmade engagement rings crafted with Fairmined metals and ethically sourced diamonds and gems. Bario-Neal offers total customization of all ring designs and transparency about suppliers and sourcing. Some diamonds in their designs are “recycled” or antique. Couples aiming for a green lifestyle need not sacrifice elegance. We loved the classic shape and colored stone in their Aquamarine Halo ring. Read More

Planning & Inspiration

We Love: The Mrs. Box

by admin

Irresistible, bright ring boxes by the woman behind Grey Likes Weddings. Created with rare, vintage French velvet in vibrant colors, every detail of these petite treasures is design perfection. Heirloom-worthy boxes can be embossed with a single gold monogram initial. Colors are charmingly named and may have limited availability. Coral-pink box shown is “The Parlour.” Shop and see more photos here: The Mrs. Box

Planning & Inspiration

Flower-Inspired Fashion: Orchids in Autumn

by admin

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

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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