So we’re having a little debate in my house. What exactly is Black Tie? We were invited to a wedding and the bottom of the card had “Black Tie” printed on it. We figured evening gown and tux, but then we were told by a friend that the bride said a black suit was fine.
So Dave decided on a black suit, and my evening gown became a fun (and knee-length) party dress.
Then through an email exchange we learned that a black suit is no longer appropriate and that a tux is required. After talking to Dave and looking at what some of the magazine’s have been showing as formal - red carpet looks - I thought that a formal black suit with a “fancy” tie would be fine for Dave and I can still wear my party dress (which I really want to wear).
But the debate goes on… can a guy substitute the classic tuxedo and bowtie for a nice black suit and tie?
If you put “Black Tie” on your invitation what would expect/want your guests to show up in?
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Shoe Rules
Now that we’ve taken care of the undergarments, let’s focus on your feet. It is so important to buy comfortable shoes for your wedding day. That doesn’t mean unattractive, and there are ways to make fabulous but uncomfortable shoes more comfy. After all, you’ll be standing and dancing in them for over 6 hours so comfort should play a factor in your purchase.
I chatted with shoe expert Meghan Cleary to get some great tips and advice when it comes to wedding shoes. Here’s what she had to say:
First, let’s debunk some common myths:
NO – your shoes do not have to match your dress
NO – you do not have to wear white, satin shoes
NO – you do not have to wear heels
NO – you do not have to be in pain on your wedding day
Instead of thinking about colors and heel heights, think about what mood you want to be in for your wedding day. Elegant? Funky? Casual? Retro? Go with shoes that have something extra for your big day — an extra layer of elegance, a beautiful bauble or two, or a really fun color.
Once you’ve decided what shoes to wear, pick three days in a week where you will be at home doing some otherwise mundane task – vacuuming, reorganizing your closet, or kvetching at your fiancé, and don your wedding shoes. Not only will you put a little bounce in your step as you buzz around the house, and no doubt will also send you into a bridal reverie, you will simultaneously identify potential trouble spots, and break them in.
Comfort Tip 1
If you are wearing leather shoes, spritz your shoes down with a mist of water to get them a little damp before you put them on. Wear them until they are dry. This will activate leather’s natural organic give and let them form to your foot.
Comfort Tip 2
Tailor your shoes just like a suit. Identify any area that is the slightest bit painful or gives a rub – this will be a major source of pain after 6 hours of getting married, dining, dancing. So let’s prevent the pain shall we? For an area inside the shoes where it rubs, take a bit of Dr. Scholl’s For Her Rub Relief Strips and stick it to the inside of the shoe. This will head off any potential blistering. You can use Rub Relief strips for the back of the heel as well, and for the entire length of the shoe use DSFH open toe insoles—they have a soft velvety side and a massaging gel—you can use them in other shoes and they will not ruin the insides of your wedding day shoes.
Comfort Tip 3
If you are wearing ballet flats – please put an insole in – I know it seems like they should be totally comfortable but do not succumb to the ballet flat myth. Instead pop in a DSFH 16-hour insole. These are lavender and fabric and are very cushy.
Get more shoe advice and shopping tips on Meghan’s site: MissMeghan.com.
A note from me: Remember to score the soles of both your shoes and the groom's to prevent slipping. And one more thing: It’s okay for your groom to see your shoes before the wedding. He’s just not supposed to see your dress!
I chatted with shoe expert Meghan Cleary to get some great tips and advice when it comes to wedding shoes. Here’s what she had to say:
First, let’s debunk some common myths:
NO – your shoes do not have to match your dress
NO – you do not have to wear white, satin shoes
NO – you do not have to wear heels
NO – you do not have to be in pain on your wedding day
Instead of thinking about colors and heel heights, think about what mood you want to be in for your wedding day. Elegant? Funky? Casual? Retro? Go with shoes that have something extra for your big day — an extra layer of elegance, a beautiful bauble or two, or a really fun color.
Once you’ve decided what shoes to wear, pick three days in a week where you will be at home doing some otherwise mundane task – vacuuming, reorganizing your closet, or kvetching at your fiancé, and don your wedding shoes. Not only will you put a little bounce in your step as you buzz around the house, and no doubt will also send you into a bridal reverie, you will simultaneously identify potential trouble spots, and break them in.
Comfort Tip 1
If you are wearing leather shoes, spritz your shoes down with a mist of water to get them a little damp before you put them on. Wear them until they are dry. This will activate leather’s natural organic give and let them form to your foot.
Comfort Tip 2
Tailor your shoes just like a suit. Identify any area that is the slightest bit painful or gives a rub – this will be a major source of pain after 6 hours of getting married, dining, dancing. So let’s prevent the pain shall we? For an area inside the shoes where it rubs, take a bit of Dr. Scholl’s For Her Rub Relief Strips and stick it to the inside of the shoe. This will head off any potential blistering. You can use Rub Relief strips for the back of the heel as well, and for the entire length of the shoe use DSFH open toe insoles—they have a soft velvety side and a massaging gel—you can use them in other shoes and they will not ruin the insides of your wedding day shoes.
Comfort Tip 3
If you are wearing ballet flats – please put an insole in – I know it seems like they should be totally comfortable but do not succumb to the ballet flat myth. Instead pop in a DSFH 16-hour insole. These are lavender and fabric and are very cushy.
Get more shoe advice and shopping tips on Meghan’s site: MissMeghan.com.
A note from me: Remember to score the soles of both your shoes and the groom's to prevent slipping. And one more thing: It’s okay for your groom to see your shoes before the wedding. He’s just not supposed to see your dress!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
How to Avoid VPL
I know this is going to sound strange, but let’s be honest, we’ve all seen it… visible panty lines or VPL. On the subway this morning I couldn’t believe the tight, ill-fitting pants and the horrible panty lines on so many women.A few weeks back on Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood (the best show on television – 9am Sunday mornings) had a segment on Spanx, and how they have revolutionized the underwear and shapewear market.
While nobody wants visible panty lines any day, you definitely don’t want them on your wedding day. If your dress has a voluminous skirt you probably won’t have to worry about this issue. But, if your dress is a more fitted – sheath, trumpet, mermaid – silhouette you need to test out a few different types of undergarments during your dress fittings to make sure that not only are the bulges and bumps smoothed out, but that no one can your panty lines.
Ask the salon where you bought your dress if they carry a line of undergarments or shapewear, and also visit some local lingerie stores or lingerie departments at a department store. Before you buy anything find out what the return policy is so you can return items that don’t fit properly.
Here are some links to recommended shapewear and undergarment stores online:
Spanx by Sara Blakely
bare necessities
figleaves.com
The product featured above is Marry Me Footless by Spanx. This $18 shapewear product offers tummy control, smoothes thighs, eliminates visible panty lines and has a soft waistband so it's comfortable. It's available in black and pearl.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Wedding Album Advice
If you can believe it, after five years of married life I still don’t have a wedding album. It’s not anyone’s fault but my own. I just didn’t make it a priority after the wedding. I saw all my pictures, which I love, but once I saw them I sort of focused on our post-wedding life.If you opted for a package deal with your photographer you will probably get your album by your first anniversary. If you chose an a la carte option of services, be careful you don’t fall into the trap that I did.
With an a la carte deal, you’re not locked into a specific album style or number of photographs, but then you must stay on top of the process and watch the dollar amount. Your photo budget can easily get blown by adding more and more photos to your album.
Once you get your proofs, or a CD of images, go through them with your fiancé and pick the ones you want for your album. After you’ve picked the photos you want in your wedding album, and the ones you want framed, ask both sets of parents to select pictures for their own albums.
If you think you’ll have trouble finding the perfect first anniversary gift for your new husband, remember that paper is the traditional first anniversary gift. Wouldn’t the perfect paper gift be your wedding album?
The photo above was taken by Jenny Ebert. Jenny is based in New York City, but can travel to any location around the world.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Eco-Wedding Invitations
Since your invitation will set the tone for your wedding, it’s important to find something that fits its style. A wedding in a ballroom on a Saturday night deserves a more formal wedding invitation, than a Sunday morning wedding at a local restaurant.For brides and grooms looking for a green component to their wedding, it’s also important to find an eco-invitation.
Over the past few years more and more stationers are printing sustainable invites. One eco-stationery company I love is Bella Figura. This upstate-New York firm works with several (extremely talented) designers and have a beautiful collection of eco-friendly invitations.
The company can also print your complete wedding stationery wardrobe so all of the elements complement each other – place cards, menu cards, programs, table cards, etc.
In addition to being stylish and good for the environment, Bella Figura is also good for your wallet. The company runs several promotions at a time that either save you money or allow you to give back to a worthy cause. Click here to see their current promotions and here to view their wedding invitation gallery.
The invitation featured above is the Pavilion design by Amy Graham Stigler.
Since your invitation will set the tone for your wedding, it’s important to find something that fits its style. A wedding in a ballroom on a Saturday night deserves a more formal wedding invitation, than a Sunday morning wedding at a local restaurant.For brides and grooms looking for a green component to their wedding, it’s also important to find an eco-invitation.
Over the past few years more and more stationers are printing sustainable invites. One eco-stationery company I love is Bella Figura. This upstate-New York firm works with several (extremely talented) designers and have a beautiful collection of eco-friendly invitations.
The company can also print your complete wedding stationery wardrobe so all of the elements complement each other – place cards, menu cards, programs, table cards, etc.
In addition to being stylish and good for the environment, Bella Figura is also good for your wallet. The company runs several promotions at a time that either save you money or allow you to give back to a worthy cause. Click here to see their current promotions and here to view their wedding invitation gallery.
The invitation featured above is the Pavilion design by Amy Graham Stigler.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Random Wedding Planning Tip
I had an idea for a great post today, and to be honest, I completely forgot what it was, so here’s a random wedding planning tip:
While you’ve been overseeing all of the details of your wedding for the last year, on your wedding day delegate all responsibilities to your wedding planner (if you hired one), vendors and bridal party.
On your big day you should not be setting out seating cards – you can alphabetize them the week before and pass them off to your planner, location manager, florist or bridesmaids.
On your big day you should not be trying to figure out why table 6 doesn’t have the right amount of place settings – give the final seating chart to your catering manager who will set the tables.
On your big day you should not be trying to figure out how to get to the ceremony site – if you’re ordering a limo or other car, confirm the order the day before and if they’re running late don’t panic, just ask your wedding planner, mom or a bridesmaid to call and find out what the hold up is.
On your big day you should let all the little things fall to the wayside and just enjoy the special moments – seeing your groom for the first time in your dress, saying your vows, and sharing your first kiss and dance.
While you’ve been overseeing all of the details of your wedding for the last year, on your wedding day delegate all responsibilities to your wedding planner (if you hired one), vendors and bridal party.
On your big day you should not be setting out seating cards – you can alphabetize them the week before and pass them off to your planner, location manager, florist or bridesmaids.
On your big day you should not be trying to figure out why table 6 doesn’t have the right amount of place settings – give the final seating chart to your catering manager who will set the tables.
On your big day you should not be trying to figure out how to get to the ceremony site – if you’re ordering a limo or other car, confirm the order the day before and if they’re running late don’t panic, just ask your wedding planner, mom or a bridesmaid to call and find out what the hold up is.
On your big day you should let all the little things fall to the wayside and just enjoy the special moments – seeing your groom for the first time in your dress, saying your vows, and sharing your first kiss and dance.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wedding Blog: Eco-Chic Weddings
Planning a green wedding is much easier (and more stylish) than it used to be. There are so many designers – mainstream and indie – who have created everything from eco-invitations to eco-attire. You can also decorate with organic flowers and serve organic food. But where should you go to find all of these green goodies?Emily Anderson, author of the book, Eco-Chic Weddings (and a Martha alum) has the best resources green brides are looking for. The blog, appropriately named Eco-Chic Weddings, will give you ideas of how to make your wedding eco-chic, as well as where to find products both online and off.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
One (Bridesmaid) Dress 30+ Ways
As you already know it’s not so easy to find the perfect bridesmaid dress. Between each girl’s personal style and size, a bride could spend months searching for one that will make everyone happy.
Butter by Nadia offers one dress – in over 20 colors! – that can be worn in over two dozen ways. The Signature Wrap Dress comes in jersey, satin or as a stain ball gown, so you’re sure to find one that matches your wedding's palette and style.
Click here to visit Butter by Nadia and view the different design possibilities. Remember, it’s okay for your girls to wear different style dresses, as long as the colors are either the same or complimentary.
I think this dress is truly one of the few bridesmaid dresses your girls will be able to wear again and again.
Butter by Nadia is sold online and at retailers across the country. The designer will be opening a store in Brooklyn in the coming months, but you can click here to find a store near you.
P.S. - And if you’re looking for an inexpensive wedding gown, these dresses are available in white too.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bridal Showers: Recipe Cards
Speaking of showers, many bridesmaids ask guests to bring recipes with them, or send them in advance, in order to create a recipe book for the bride. I love this idea, and if you’re planning on doing this at an upcoming shower, or you just need to organize your own collection, here are my two favorite recipe organizers:
This lucite Recipe Box from Jack and Lulu ($50) has sectioned tabs and 50 monogrammed recipe cards. There are several patterns that you can choose from, and the lid has a small tray to hold a recipe card while you're cooking. You can also add the bride's monogram to the decorative front card and each recipe card for a personal touch.
russell+hazel’s Recipe Binder Set ($60) includes a binder with 15 section tabs, 40 recipe pages, 50 recipe cards and 60 menu planning sheets. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, russell+hazel also make a Recipe Card Keeper ($40). This mini-patent binder holds 50 recipe cards and 20 page protectors so you can display the card while cooking and not have to worry about food getting on it.
This lucite Recipe Box from Jack and Lulu ($50) has sectioned tabs and 50 monogrammed recipe cards. There are several patterns that you can choose from, and the lid has a small tray to hold a recipe card while you're cooking. You can also add the bride's monogram to the decorative front card and each recipe card for a personal touch. 
russell+hazel’s Recipe Binder Set ($60) includes a binder with 15 section tabs, 40 recipe pages, 50 recipe cards and 60 menu planning sheets. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, russell+hazel also make a Recipe Card Keeper ($40). This mini-patent binder holds 50 recipe cards and 20 page protectors so you can display the card while cooking and not have to worry about food getting on it.
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