Real Wedding Follow-Up: Caroline & Keat, Part 4

Posted by Caroline Crown, whose wedding is featured in our Fall issue

Yesterday, I mentioned the Palmetto tree and crescent moon as recurring icons throughout our weekend-long destination wedding.

In addition to appearing on our guest bags, the logos also showed up on our groomsmen as cufflinks. The gift itself was somewhat of a no-brainer, but they’re kind of the perfect gift for guys. We had the jeweler who made our wedding rings customize a pair of cufflinks for us: one cufflink was the palmetto and the other was a crescent moon.

Photography by Bryan Johnson and Caleb Chancey

I have to say that thinking up the perfect bridesmaid and groomsmen gift was difficult for Keat and I. Our wedding party of 24 was a mix of brothers and sisters, childhood, high school, college, and work friends! We wanted to thank each person with a creative and thoughtful gift that showed how much we appreciated them standing beside us on our big day. And the bridesmaids’ gifts were a bit trickier. After all, I was already forcing my 12 friends to wear white in November (tomorrow’s post!), which is not exactly ideal. Finding a creative and thoughtful gift for 12 very different personalities was a bit of a challenge.

Since I knew it was going to be chilly on the day of the wedding, I got each bridesmaid a navy pashmina. Not exactly mind-blowing, I know, but I didn’t want them to be cold! My next gift was a product that was introduced to me by one of the fabulous celebrity makeup artists I worked with while at Chanel. By Terry Lip Balm is the most luxurious and perfect lip balm. It looks great on everyone, but with a price tag of $65, it’s not something you would necessarily buy for yourself. By gifting the By Terry Lip Balm, I was able to share something I loved with the girls I loved! The final part of the bridesmaid gift was treating them to blowouts the day of the wedding. Again, the least I could do for making them wear white with me!

What are you doing for bridal party gifts?

Fashion: Reuven Kassai Designs Cufflinks

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Expert

These cufflinks from Reuven Kassai are so special, they will not go unnoticed by your groom or his groomsmen. They are more like small sculptures than just jewelry, and the brushed metal really makes them feel very current and modern while still being traditional. What do you think? 

Photo courtesy of Reven Kassai

Link We Love: Tote-ally Awesome

Posted by Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor

MAPTOTE began just a few years ago when Rachel and Michael decided to turn the reusable grocery bags they found while on vacationing in Germany into inexpensive keepsakes. The couple decided upon their return that they wanted a Brooklyn tote. And so it all began.

Manufactured and printed in the couple’s hometown of Brooklyn, NY, the bags are not only eco-friendly because they reduce the use of plastic bags, but they’re made of earth-conscious materials that leave a minimal carbon footprint (brownie points!).

Robindira Unsworth Jewelry

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Market Editor

Robindira Unsworth is the "go to" company for inspired jewels that transport you to another world. This time, the husband-and-wife team channeled the sights and sounds of Turkey and Greece, which they recently visited, to create a collection of eclectic pieces with real Old-World charm.

Robindira's inspiration board

Fashion: Accessories by Little White Dresser

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Market Editor

Little White Dresser is hands down one of my favorite Etsy.com dealers. When she's not studying textile design full time in Tel Aviv, 26-year-old Avishag sews, knits, crochets, and paints to create the most amazing belts, hair accessories, and jewelry for brides and bridesmaids—all for under $35. The pieces below are perfect for adding a special touch to your wedding gown and make a great gift for your bridesmaids or yourself!

To Have & To Hold

Posted by Britni Wood, Style Expert

What's a good gift without an element of quirk? In fact, I search solely for gifts that fit this bill—I just think you get more bang for your buck that way. Enter Mélangerie Inc. They offer the cutest bags that are perfect for your bridal party or for anyone involved in making your big day so special. Sold on Etsy, the "To Have & To Hold" bags can be customized if ordering in bulk, and I just love the play on words for things other than wedding fodder. After all, I'd like "To Have & To Hold" some fresh baguettes or the morning paper any day of the week. The possibilities for this little bag are endless.

Cufflinks for Everyone!

Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director

Okay, maybe not everyone, but how about for your groom or his best man? They can be super easy to make if you get the right glue. I made these out of a matched pair of cabochons from a great website for beads and minerals, kibeads.com. Instructions and sources for the cufflink backs are available by clicking on the picture below. 

 

They would also be great made with Mexican Agate, like these pairs below, available at kibeads.com.

 

Or if these aren't formal enough for your wedding, you can easily make cuff links out of coins. You may want to pick a coin from your birth year and his, since you'll need two. Or my favorite of all may be drusy, which is a sparkly mineral that can be gold or silver plated, shown below.

Are you making anything for your groom to wear? 

Tut-Tut, It Looks Like Rain

Posted by Britni Wood, Style Expert

I was at the beautiful wedding of my friend and work colleague this weekend. The bride was gorgeous, the flowers divine, the weather...well, not so great. It made me wonder, "How do you really ever plan for rain on your wedding day?" Inevitably, hair will be flat and make-up will look one step past "dewy."

If you've planned an amazing wedding outside and picked the dress of your dreams, but are walked down the aisle by your father under a plain old golf umbrella, I'm guessing your wedding album won't be one you'll want to thumb through very often. Enter Brollies Galore. They happen to have the cutest umbrellas and parasols I've ever seen. They're based in the UK, so plan ahead if you're going to order for yourself or your bridal party, but they are well worth the wait. I think they're downright dripping with style.

Oh, and tune in to Sirius Channel 112 at 3:30 for more rainy-day planning ideas.

Sarah Chloe-Wishful Thinking

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Market Editor

Are you like me—always looking for the next big thing in jewelry? Then meet Zahava, designer of the Sarah Chloe jewelry line. She designed her first jewelry collection at the age of 18 and has already worked for two of the largest diamond companies in the world, so I'd say she knows her stuff. Her collection is inspired by her daughter Sarah Chloe and consists of playful charms and accessories that celebrate love, happiness, and family. I especially love her Wish Bone necklaces. At $95, they are perfect bridesmaids gifts that will always remind your friends of their special role in your life.

 

Photo courtesy of Sarah Chloe

Tejani Custom Jewelry

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Market Expert

Imagine if, as a gift to your bridesmaids, you could create your own jewelry without the trouble of attending a metalworking class or scouring the Diamond District for jewels in bulk? Well, now you can—sort of. Tejani boasts affordable bridesmaid jewelry customizable in every color of the rainbow. You can even send the company a fabric swatch of your bridesmaids dresses to get the closest match. Here's a handy chart with all of their color options.

Tejani also offer a 10% discount to brides who purchase these jewels and have six or more bridesmaids taking part in their special day. I'm amazed by the quality of this jewelry and how stylish it is. Sometimes "bride" and "bridesmaid" jewelry can have a bad stigma attached to it, but this jewelry is worthy of being in the accessories pages in Vogue. Check out these earrings below, available in any of the colors.

All images courtesy of Tejani