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Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Fashion Market and Shopping Expert
Posted by Cara Sullivan, Beauty Expert
It's still bitterly cold out in NYC, but that doesn't mean I can't have the tropics on my mind. (Maybe just for that reason, I should!) I just discovered a perfume that makes me very, very happy: Cereus Pour Femme No. 12. It's a romantic blend of peach flower, watermelon, black currant, Brazilian rosewood, and vanilla—really, it just smells like warm weather. If you're getting married this spring, especially outside, you should absolutely consider wearing it while you say I Do. There's something really refreshing and delicious about it—I like to think of it as the smell equivalent of biting into that first piece of summer watermelon. Give it a whiff and let me know what you think.
And here's another of my new favorites: Prada Infusion De Fleur D'Oranger. The limited edition fragrance (with exotic notes of orange blossom, tuberose, and jasmine) doesn't launch until March, but I suggest you get in line ASAP. It is seriously luxurious and refreshing, and I have a feeling it's going to fly off the Spring shelves.
What are you planning on spraying on for the big day? Will you go with an old favorite or something new? Tell me—I'm always curious to know which products real brides like you rely on.
Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Fashion Market and Shopping Expert
If you don't do your homework, bridesmaid dress shopping can be a dismal affair. Uninspiring cuts and unappealing color choices can really frustrate a bride, not to mention her friends who actually have to wear the dresses. Thankfully, Alix & Kelly are succeeding in creating dresses that are a little different and much more wearable. The reason: The two friends worked as costume designers before, unsatisfied with the choices out there, they starting out making their own bridesmaid dresses for friends. These are dresses that a girl might actually want to wear again!
Photos courtesy of Alix & Kelly
Posted by Anthony Luscia, Men's Market Editor
The days of the raucous bachelor party are over, or at least I hope they are. There are so many better ways to bond pre-wedding—like treating your groomsmen to a professional shave. Good skincare is more essential than ever for grooms-to-be, and shaving is a huge part of that.
The Four Seasons Palm Beach is now providing the ultimate retreat for men who like to look after themselves, and the private Willow Room in the recently launched spa is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and get a great shave. It's equipped with a traditional barber chair, and a flat-screen TV (you can also indulge in hair and scalp treatments.) Not all grooms can get to the Four Seasons Palm Beach, but if you can, GO!!! If you can't, get a pro shave at home with these tips:
• Heat it up. Cleanse your skin, then drape a hot towel over your face for a few seconds to soften hair follicles—it's the best way to ensure a close, long-lasting shave without irritation.
• Stick with the basics. Use shaving cream and a classic straight-edge razor. If you don't trust your straight-edge skills, at least use a multi-blade razor. No Bics!
• Chill out. Put on something comfortable and play your favorite soothing music to help you relax.
I always love to hear how the men in your life is taking care of his skin. Does your fiance have a pre-wedding routine established yet? Tell me about it!
Posted by Grace Bonney, of Design*Sponge
Now that we’re measuring the distance between today and the BIG DAY in weeks, not units of six months, it’s time to get serious about our honeymoon. That’s right, we haven’t booked a honeymoon. I know, I know, ridiculous, but here’s what happened.
Scene: Six months ago, our living room in Brooklyn.
Me: Hey, we should really book our honeymoon.
Aaron: Cool, what were you thinking?
Me: What about Big Sur? (I show him the website for the Post Ranch Inn)
Aaron: Awesome, it has a fireplace and a hot tub? Sounds great. Let’s book it!
Me: (sound of calling and reserving the honeymoon suite) We’re set. Big Sur here we come!
End scene.
The Post Ranch Inn.
Cut to six months later— the economy has totally tanked and visions of staying in fancy rooms on the edge of a cliff with an infinity pool have become largely laughable for us.
So now we’re trying to scale back our honeymoon and find the perfect place to spend our first week as a married couple. We shifted gears pretty quickly to decide on what is regrettably called “glamping” these days (glamorous + camping). We’re both fine with roughing it, but for the honeymoon we wanted something extra special.
The only hitch? All of the places we’d like to go are up north and seem to not open until the end of May or early June, a full month after the ceremony.
So now we’re trying to decide: should we wait a month to stay somewhere dreamy like The Resort at Paws Up in Montana, or Clayoquot in Canada? Or should we try something like this in Southern California that might be able to take us right after the wedding?
Some of the contenders: Clayoquot and The Resort at Paws Up.
My questions to all the wedded-experts in the audience today are:
1) Did you wait to go on your honeymoon, or go right after the wedding? If you waited, did you regret it? Or was it worth the wait?
2) Did anyone go fancy camping (I refuse to keep saying "glamping") for their honeymoon, and if so, where did you stay?
As always, thanks for your tips and feedback.
Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director
Ok, maybe good is a stretch, but definitely better. And whether you're planning a green(er) wedding or not, all-natural candy is a nice way to honor your guests. But you won't find it in your local grocery store next to the Twizzlers. The Natural Candy Store has a giant selection, with something to please everyone, from Turkish Delight
and salted butter caramel lollipops (a grown-up lolly)
to organic and fair trade chocolate hearts
and my favorite, pates de fruits.
All of it tasty and perfect for serving to a crowd!
Posted by Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor
The majority of weddings may occur during the warmer months of the year, in what is known as “wedding season.” But I noticed that a few weekends last year were particularly popular, and I’m wondering just how much the weather factored in when the couples chose their dates. (I'm guessing not very much.)
August 8th, a Friday, was 08.08.08, and June 7th, a Saturday was 06.07.08. When listed numerically, the dates have a bit of charm—whether it's because of their graphic appeal, a lucky feeling, or something else entirely.
here's an 08.08.08 save the date by Elum designs
I went month by month on this year's calendar, and I see that we don’t have many of these sequential dates in 2009. Unlike 2007’s “jackpot” of 07.07.07, September 9th (09.09.09) is smack in the middle of the week. And 07.08.09 is a weekday, too. But luckily, next week we’re getting 03.06.09, which is the only somewhat sequential date I can see for this year. Any takers?
What factors went into choosing your wedding date?? And do you plan to integrate that date in a special way?
Posted by Darcy Miller, Editorial Director
If you're looking for something fun to add to your bridal registry, definitely look at the "Baking Days" collection from Spode. It's made up of dinnerware as well as cooking and serving pieces, and goes from the freezer to the microwave to the dishwasher with no problem. My favorite shapes are the canister (I like the red, though it also comes in black, blue, and green, and soon white, pictured above!) and the individual footed bowl (I call it the "ice cream" bowl). Of course, you'll still have the good china for holidays and family gatherings, but I love the idea of brightening up the table with something a little quirky and unexpected. What do you think of registering for unexpected china?
Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director
Who doesn't love confetti? It's so celebratory. Some friends of mine have started a company called Confetti System, and it's all about parties and confetti and pinatas and fun. I love the idea of their pinatas at a wedding, in a cocktail area or hovering above the dance floor. Theirs are super-sophisticated and pretty and would make a great decoration for a special area—kind of like a disco ball without all the reflective surfaces (or with prettier ones, as is the case with the last image). Very inspiring!
The only trouble is they're too pretty to break!
Posted by Britni Wood, Style Expert
I was fortunate enough to have "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a few weeks back in honor of the new Tiffany Bezet Engagement Collection that will be in select Tiffany & Co. stores May of 2009. It was an absolute delight to view the beautiful engagement rings and enjoy the wonderful breakfast they provided for us.
The breathtaking collection is made up of brilliant-cut diamonds in the most wanted shapes of radiant round, heart shape, pear shape and princess cut, streamlined in a polished bezel setting. The engagement rings are the perfect marriage of Tiffany's timeless design and a modern style that is sure to be a favorite among brides-to-be. Aren't they so pretty?
Tiffany Bezet engagement ring styles, from left: heart, round, pear, band, princess in platinum settings.
Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
