Party Lines: PartyParty

Posted by Britni Wood, Style Expert

There are few things that say party like sparkly garlands and candy-colored pinatas. And there are few people that make sparkly garlands and candy colored pinatas quite like CONFETTISYSTEM. How fun to throw a bachelorette party and decorate with all of their amazing creations!

Our Style Director, Katie Hatch, blogged about the amazing pinatas from CONFETTISYSTEM in February, and the design duo have had quite a year. From being featured in music videos, fashion shows, and window installations for some of the coolest stores around, they've found a happy home this holiday season at Urban Outfitters with a collaboration called PartyParty. The items should be hitting stores soon, so eat, drink, be married, and for goodness sake, be sparkly!

photos by estelle hanania

Link We Love: Bellochio

Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director

It's no secret: We love Bellochio! The specialty shop in San Francisco is filled with darling accoutrements at every turn, and there's no shortage of reasons to go there (on the web, at least).

1. They offer affordable jewelry for the bridal party gifts and for the bride.

2. Their packaging is breathtaking and extremely thoughtful.

3. Their custom chocolates and caramels taste as good as they look.

4. The stationery, perfect for thank you notes, can't be beat!

I could go on, but then I'd have you here all day!

Event Planning: Report from Saint Barts, Part Two

Posted by Matthew Robbins, Contributor

As part two of my little series of posts on St. Barts, I would like to share a few important contacts with you all. These fantastic people are some of the most knowledgeable and professional friends I have had the pleasure of spending time with during my recent visit. They each share a different history and relationship with the island, but they all bring an impeccable level of service and commitment to their work.

I'll start with Aurélie De Vos. Have a look at her site St. Barth Celebrations for details regarding her planning services. Her calm and cool spirit will keep you relaxed and at ease as she navigates all of the island's options for your event. Her partner Manu is an incredible chef who provides French-inspired private service and catering options for rehearsal dinners, intimate cocktail parties, and elaborate receptions. Here are a few images from a tasting Aurélie and Manu presented for our visit. I love the presentation for each course: small, delicate, and easy to eat. Also, everything was perfect for a hot, tropical environment.

Individual servings of seafood salad

Small tastings of refreshing chilled soup

Beautiful ceviche served in petite glasses

Small tarts with fresh mango, lime, and blueberries

Real Wedding Follow-Up: Caroline & Keat, Part 2

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

 
Photography by Bryan Johnson and Caleb Chancey

Yesterday, I shared some of my planning tips when it comes to destination weddings. I was lucky enough to work with Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events and thought it'd be nice to share some additional tips straight from a pro. Here are some things that came into play when planning my wedding, which will help any of you getting married in the colder months when there's a chance of rain, snow, and chilly air. Here's what he had to say.

1. Have a Plan B that you actually like!
A simple no-nonsense rain plan involves reserving a ceremony (and/or dinner!) backup location, or putting a tent on hold with your venue or local rental company.

Saturday, 11.29.08, when Caroline & Keat got married, turned out to be a gray, rainy day with a dampness and a chill that we were determined to overcome. Plan A was a ceremony outdoors in the centuries-old Octagonal Gardens at Middleton Place. A few days out, we watched the forecast and made a bold decision to move the ceremony indoors to the Pavilion, which we had on hold as a rain backup for the ceremony. The beauty of our Plan B is how seamlessly it unfolded. We had long ago planned to flood the back-up venue with an abundance of varying votive light for warmth and drama. The simplicity of hanging hundreds of votives from the beamed ceiling resulted in a breathtaking scene as the guests filed in from their trolleys, happy to settle into a lovely environment. Remember: Spontaneity can be a plus!

2. Pretend You're a Guest
When worrying over a flawed design idea, event flow sticking point, or concern over guest comfort, we often ask ourselves: 'What would I feel like if I were a guest, walking through this wedding?' Here, we did the same thing. For starters, we bagged up gigantic piles of fresh towels for toweling off anything that needed drying. Secondly, we invested in plenty of nice, white golf umbrellas big enough to cover 2-3 heads at once. Next, we arranged for staff to be on hand at every step to play "personal umbrella holder" to guests stepping across the plantation grounds. (Think P. Diddy!) Lastly, we dropped down tent sides and added canon-blown heat to the dinner tent in lieu of the unsightliness and limited reach of mushroom heaters.

3. Play "shepherd"
We are often asked if transportation is necessary, as it can pose a financial and logistical challenge to brides planning for their big day. Destination weddings come with their own layers of presumed modern-day etiquette, including the notion that rental cars aren't necessary and guests will be shuttled to/from each and every function. While this isn't always feasible for each and every bride, it is certainly something to remember to aim for when budgeting for the big day. When possible, planning to shuttle guests about town in a streamlined fashion can be the element that makes them feel completely confident and secure in their enjoyment of the evening.

Transportation provides an automatic safety net if guests over-indulge. Secondly, it assures the timeliness of the event's agenda, as guests are "captive" for the most part, and planners and other professionals can ensure a speedy arrival and departure. Lastly, it is that special touch that very well may cap off a guest's entire perception of how well-received he or she has been for the wedding weekend.

For Caroline and Keat's wedding weekend, we had a lot of fun utilizing several different local vendors to "shake up" the way guests were moved about Charleston each day. On Thursday night, we deployed sleek black sprinter vans to move them in style. On Friday night, we used a bevy of British black cabs to/from the William Aiken House. On Saturday, we lined up old-fashioned trolleys to take them on the 45 minute trek to Middleton Place.

4. Welcome them with Local Flavor
We worked closely with the families to plan for darling little welcome bags aimed at introducing guests to Charleston. Caroline will be talking about all the goodies inside tomorrow!

Beauty: Mythbuster time...

Posted by Cara Sullivan, Beauty Expert

A couple weeks ago, I posted about wearing matte lipstick. I was reading the comments (I read every single one, so if you have a question, ask! I'll either answer it right away or do some research and post about it within a couple weeks). Anyways, there was some confusion about whether or not drinking water can actually hydrate your skin...

Sigh. I wish it was that easy! I'm going to burst some major bubbles by writing this, but that whole "water makes your skin more moisturized" thing is pretty much a myth. With the help of a few derms, I did some research and discovered that NO controlled studies have ever actually concluded that drinking water equals hydrated skin. There was one non-controlled study, but it had two major issues: a) it tested sparkling water (not tap) and b) there was no control group.

Fact is, when you drink water, it doesn't go straight to your skin cells (thank god, otherwise we'd all be seriously bloated...) It goes to the intestines, then to the bloodstream, then the kidneys, and finally, the skin and everywhere else. Keep drinking water, though—there are about a bazillion other health benefits!

Bottom line: To hydrate your skin from the inside-out and guarantee a glow on the big day, it's important to eat a diet that's rich in fatty acids (walnuts, salmon, and olive oil are all loaded with the stuff.) And of course, keep slathering on that moisturizer. I always look for hyaluronic acid in the ingredient list—when it comes to moisturization, it's pretty much the gold standard.

DIY Craft: A Snow White Dove

Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director

I've been listening to Dolly Parton's "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove" and it reminded me of one of my favorite stories Rebecca Thuss did while she was working at MSW, a story about handmade cake toppers.  (And, yes, I do know that Dolly wasn't singing about romance).

Anyway, I like the idea of making your own cake topper because it's a small, manageable project (compared to, say, favors), and it can become an heirloom you pass down to your daughter years later. So, to me, the time seems justified. Here's the topper I was thinking of:

It's relatively easy to make this, not least of all because all you need to start are a few pre-made elements, like the doves and the styrofoam base. The directions are here. 

What are you doing for a cake topper?

Fashion: Ice Cream Candy Headbands

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Expert

If you're a bride to be with a certain hippie flair, you'll love the headbands by Etsy dealer Ice Cream Candy. From flowers to large, sparkly sequins to delicate lace, the details on these hair accessories are more than special enough for your big day. Plus, you can add one of these adornments to your wedding day look for only $30-45.  Find Ice Cream Candy on Etsy.com.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Ice Cream Candy

Real Bride: Caroline & Keat, Part 1

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

Photography by Bryan Johnson and Caleb Chancey

Just about a year to the day of marrying husband Keat, our wedding -- part Thanksgiving feast, part destination wedding, and fully a weekend celebration of all of our nearest and dearest -- appeared in the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings. Thanks to the help of an amazingly talented wedding planner, and my wonderfully loving and helpful mother and mother-in-law, we had such a memorable wedding, welcome dinner, and Thanksgiving for 70. So, with my first anniversary looming and much to be thankful for, I'll be here each day until Thanksgiving sharing some additional tidbits you didn't see in the magazine.

First topic of discussion? Planning tips!

I think most women who have planned a wedding would agree when I describe the process as the perfect mix of fun and stress. And if you’re planning a destination wedding, you get double the fun and double --  maybe triple -- the stress!

Etiquette: Must Engagement-Party Guests Be Invited to the Wedding?

Posted by Talley Sue Hohlfeld, Etiquette Expert

In response to one of our previous etiquette items (about a mother-of-the-bride with a limited guest list for a destination wedding, but lots of local friends and relatives), a reader told about her plans for her engagement party.

We are having a small wedding...but we still wanted to share it with everyone so we had a big but budget engagement party in our back yard. Then when people ask about the wedding we just say we are having something very small out of town.

That reminded me of a "squishy" part of engagement-party etiquette. Must you limit yourself to inviting only people that you are *sure* will be invited to the wedding itself?

The sources we rely on aren't always clear. Emily Post from 1991 says "The guest list is unlimited, but the majority of engagement parties are restricted to relatives and good friends. Occasionally—and it is not improper—the party is a huge open house or reception, including all the friends of both families."

However, I know that many other sources will say you *should* limit your list. I know a bride who found herself reluctantly adding someone to her wedding guest list because the 'rents invited them to the engagement party—and the guests clearly took it as an indicator they'd be invited to the wedding itself.

Being invited to *any* social event is a clue that the hosts think you're important, so you can't quite blame the E.P. guests for thinking it means something. And it doesn't help that nowadays, most people think of engagement parties as gift-giving occasions (regardless of what all the etiquette books say—which is "gifts firmly not required").

And just to make matters harder, usually an engagement party should take place pretty soon after the engagement itself, so you may not know how many guests you'll invite to the wedding. You just haven't gotten that far yet! And if your engagement is long, there may be people who are part of your life now (friends, etc.) who will fade out before the last months before the invite.

So, what do you think? Is it important to restrict that guest list? Or can you have a big engagement party, and still get away with not inviting all of those people to the wedding?

Expert Advice: Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co.

Posted by Britni Wood, Associate Style Editor

from top: logo for Anna's store, custom invitation suite, Anna and her darling husband on their wedding day 

I'm thrilled to introduce Anna Bond from Rifle Design and new store Rifle Paper Co. as our Style Expert this week. Anna's work has graced the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings and can be seen in our Fall issue on newsstands now. I dare you to look at her gorgeous style without a smile on your face. She has the most whimsical and lighthearted approach to wedding invitations, so I thought, what better than to get to know what inspires her than to interview her right here on the Bride's Guide.

Britni Wood: Where did you get your start as an invitation designer?

Anna Bond: I studied graphic design in college and worked as both an art director and freelance designer/illustrator before I began designing stationery. After designing wedding invitation sets for a couple of close friends, I quickly began to realize how much I loved it and decided to focus on it as my business.

BW: What are the artistic influences and inspirations that have informed your design aesthetic?

AB: It seems like there are too many to list! I love sifting through all sorts of things to find inspiration such as mid century design & architecture, vintage children's books, South American folk art, and so on. I love illustrations by Marc Boutavant, Matte Stephens, and Mary Blair, all of which have a very nostalgic quality to them.

BW: I know you were married recently—congratulations! Has going through the process of planning your own wedding changed how you work with your brides? What words of advice would you give to brides about designing a custom stationery suite for their own weddings?

AB: I actually hadn't done too many stationery sets before I got married, but I'm glad that I got to experience being a bride before working with so many. I feel I can relate to the wedding process better and not only understand the importance of the day but the stresses that a bride can feel. 

My advice to brides who want custom suites is to not be shy about sharing their photos, personal stories, likes and dislikes. This is one of the most important steps in the design process, and communicating what you want in the beginning helps the designer and bride be on the same page throughout the project. I love hearing as much as I can about each couple. Not only is it fun to hear, but I want to find out enough to be inspired by each couple so I create something uniquely "them."

BW: Can you share with us some of the crazy requests you’ve received the last few years?

AB: I wish I had a crazy story, but I've been very fortunate to have worked with wonderful brides who are are incredibly easy to work with. The craziest deadline I've had was probably my own wedding with its 4-month-long engagement. 

BW: Tell us about your new great store!

AB: I'm so excited about it! It's been a long time coming and has been put on hold throughout the year while I've focused on my custom invitations. I'm set to launch next week on Monday the 23rd. The store will feature personalized wedding invitation templates, stationery, miscellaneous paper goods, art prints, and children's paper goods. I'll be adding more products throughout the year, but the main focus of the shop is the line of invitation templates. The designs are all illustrated and will feature lots of customizable options at a more affordable rate than my custom work—perfect for brides on a budget!