Bridal Bargain-Hunting Tip #2: Shop Duty Free

Whilst I wholeheartedly believe that shopping for various wedding items is generally worth the splurge of going retail and/or upscale, there are bridal bargains to be found out there. Don't be afraid to look!

Our second installment of bridal bargain-hunting tips comes as the hubby and I depart for a little weekend jaunt to London, so I will soon be practicing what I preach and plundering the airport duty free shops in search of holiday gifts.

Duty free works for weddings, too! If you're a bride who happens to be traveling internationally between now and your wedding, keep your eyes peeled for some great stuff: top of the line makeup and fragrances (hello, Jo Malone at Heathrow!) at bargain basement prices; and fashionable splurges like designer shoes, jewelry and handbags that won't break your wedding budget (but, granted, might still ding it a bit).

Heathrow's Terminal 3 alone is home to Bally, Bulgari, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Harrod's, Hermes, Jo Malone, M.A.C., Mulberry, Tiffany, Tod's, Versace... it's rather dangerous actually.

I had two teenagers as bridesmaids way back when I got married in 2009, and I knew the girls were lusting after Longchamp Le Pliage totes.

As their bridesmaid gifts I decided to fill the totes above with other goodies (Sara Lenart jewelry and Philosophy products, to be exact!). I found an amazing deal at Heathrow: Le Pliage totes for GBP46 (about $72) - which retail for $125 in the US!

Brides beware: shopping duty free can be like braving the outlets - you never know exactly what you will find. So leave yourself plenty of time for shopping, manage your expectations, and keep an open mind.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to making my list of William and Kate paraphernalia I'll be purchasing in London.

Cheerio,

The Clutchquet: A Fun and Fashionable Bouquet Alternative!

Thanks to yesterday's post on the fabulous sugar flowers created by Victoria of Numily Creations, I am on a flower alternative kick and finally have an inkling to post one of my all-time favorite wedding ideas: the bridesmaid clutch-bouquet... clutchquet? I think yes.

The clutchquet is a triple threat:

1. Bridesmaid gift

2. Bridesmaid bouquet

3. Handy and fashionable storage for your bridesmaids' valuables (like lipstick) - and something they might really seriously use again! After they dye their bridesmaid dress a color they will also wear again. Bonus!

This here's my absolute favorite:

Photo: Bella Destinee via Offbeat Bride

As floral bills continue to skyrocket and brides become more inclined to make their weddings "green", the clutchquet seems to be a trend that is catching on.

I found these and many other beauties on Etsy.

First, peacock delight! The brooch actually looks like a little bouquet itself, adding to the character of this cutie patootie:

Angee W on Etsy

And you know I wouldn't have let this post pass me by without showing some orange goodness:

Bella Fiore on Etsy

So fun!

Which is your favorite? Would you ever choose a clutchquet for your bridesmaids?

Cheers,

Bridal Scents at Every Price!

I've written before about the fabulous Jo Malone and the art of fragrance combining to create a signature bridal scent for your big day. But you know, I realize that some brides have other priorities besides sniffing dozens of colognes for hours in a quest to define their bridal style via scent combo.

So for those of you looking for a quick bridal scent guide, below are a few standouts at different price points.

UNDER $50
While Carrie Bradshaw's dramafest of a first attempt at marrying Mr. Big at the New York Public Library is not necessarily a bridal moment for which to strive, Sarah Jessica Parker has created a gaggle of scents to compliment a sophisticated bride on a budget. This Lovely Gift Set includes shower gel and lotion for layering, which extends the life of the scent on your skin.

$39 at Kohl's

These days it's a rare bride who does not incorporate Vera Wang into her wedding somehow (my touch of Vera? We registered for some of her Wedgwood silverware!). Bouquet is one of her most popular scents - perfect for the classic bride.

Vera for under $50?! Thank you, Amazon.com!

UNDER $100
Chanel Chance is my favorite designer fragrance - and now with a trio of scents, there is a Chance for all seasons. The best scent for brides is Chance Eau Fraiche. Perfect for the bride who wants to make a splash. Shower gel and body cream are available too - layer, layer, layer!

(Under $75 if you get it Duty Free!) Or splurge on Chanel.com.

UNDER, um, $216,000
For the truly insane - I mean, discerning - bride, Clive Christian offers Imperial Majesty: a $2,150-per-ounce perfume poured into a handcrafted Baccarat crystal bottle adorned with a five-carat diamond set in an 18-carat gold collar. WHOA. What's more, the perfume is personally delivered by Rolls Royce. This is your chance to own a piece of history - the very limited edition Imperial Majesty is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Expensive Perfume. (I would hope it is!)

Clive Christian = Be to the Yond

What is your favorite bridal scent? To save or to splurge? Let me know your thoughts!

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #4: Jewel Tone Manolos. Hot.

Believe it or not, I am not actually a shoe person. (Don't worry about me though! Where I lack lust for shoes I more than make up in my obsession with handbags. I promise.) However I can't stop gawking at the current crop of jewel-tone Manolo Blahnik beauties out this season. And in my gawking I can't help but think how fabulous two of his iconic models - the Sedaraby D'Orsay and the Hangisi - would look on fall and winter brides. The jewel tones add an unexpected twist, while the designs are absolutely classic and stunning.

I'll take one of each please. Thank you, Bergdorf Goodman.

The "Something Blue" jeweled satin Hangisi (bottom right) was of course made beyond iconic by SJP in the first "Sex and the City" movie. The object of Carrie Bradshaw's lust - possibly the most fabulous "something blue" a bride can wear, no? - has since been transformed into a gorgeous dark gray model which is right on trend with current hot wedding color palettes. Drool.

In general though, brides like to show off a good pedi. And what better way than to don a pair of jeweled satin Sedaraby D'Orsay pumps? I absolutely love the peacock blue, and the extra bling on the claret red is basically to die for. Winter wedding perfection.

Which pair is your fave? Would you choose jewel tones over classic bridal white for your wedding shoe?

Cheers,

Bridal Tip: Sniff Out your Signature Scent

With all of the amazing wedding inspiration and resources out there these days, cookie cutter weddings are (I hope) a thing of the past. There are endless ways to personalize your big day - from ceremony readings to your menu to wedding favors to... your perfume? Heck yeah!

I always encourage my brides to embrace and enjoy pre-wedding primping (and to not stress about it!). As part of this ritual I recommend a shopping trip to procure your signature bridal scent. You don't want a generic wedding, so why settle for a generic scent? Designers like Jo Malone make it easy and really, really fun to create your very own scent to compliment your bridal style.

The key to creating your signature scent is to layer. Use a body cream in one scent, and a cologne in a different but complimentary scent. Yum!

For example, Jo Malone's delish new English Pear and Freesia - which I purchased last weekend at Duty Free (where all brides should buy as many of their primping supplies as possible, as duty free prices will save you some mayjah bank!) - is the perfect cologne layer for a fall wedding.

+

= Bridal Fabulousness!

But how do you know what to layer underneath? This decision is largely up to you, and your Jo Malone salesperson will help you find the combination that you love most. The Jo Malone website also has a whole section on fragrance combining, complete with a printable PDF guide!

I smell bridal goodness...

Cheers,

Worth the Splurge: Fave Toasting Flutes for the Fab Bride and Groom

I happen to be turning 30 in just over a month. Not that I'm panicking about it or anything. No really, no panic here, people...

What I am doing is planning on toasting the big 3-0 with my mom, who turns the big(ger) 6-0 on the very same day! Having the same birthday as my mom has always been a hoot, but this year is beyond mayjah and we will be celebrating accordingly (along with the hubby, who will certainly have his hands full with the two of us!).

To that end, I bought a pair of adorable Emma Bridgewater toasting flutes while in London last week:

Yes! They say "Fizz!" How cute, right?

I heart champagne flutes. I collect them in pairs instead of owning a full set in one style, because there are so many fun flutes from which to choose! I also think toasting flutes are a very worthwhile wedding splurge. Invest in a pair that strike your fancy, use them at your wedding, and you will love them forever (I promise).

Herewith, some of my very favorites:

Simon Pearce Stratton Flute

You can never go wrong with Simon Pearce. The hubby and I received these as a gift before our wedding and used them happily. My Vermont bride and her groom had them too! At $85 a pop, they are a worthwhile splurge. Simon Pearce glass is gorgeous, heavy, and handcrafted. Plus, they hold a LOT of bubbly. Bonus!

I am also basically obsessed with Juliska. Their glassware reminds me of Ancient Rome - and who wouldn't want to feel like a Roman princess on her wedding day? See this piece of fabulosity:

Juliska Victoria Tall Flute

Positively regal at $96 each.

Another Juliska gem that is more modern and less pricey (a relative steal at $74!):

Say hello to Graham!

I covet this flute. CO. VET. I think this is the perfect toasting flute for a wedding. Why, you ask? Is the detail on the flute not reminiscent of an engagement ring? Why yes, it is! Gorgeous, no? Yes!

And now I need a glass of wine.

Cheers!

Bridal Bargain-Hunting Tip #1: Brave the Outlets

Whilst I wholeheartedly believe that shopping for various wedding items is generally worth the splurge of going retail and/or upscale, there are bridal bargains to be found out there. Don't be afraid to look!

Our first official Bridal Bargain-Hunting Tip: Brave the Outlets!

Outlet malls can be trying, exhausting, and downright vicious. But there is nothing like the thrill of the chase and bagging a dream bargain. I highly recommend that my brides take a trip to their local outlet mall. You never know what you'll find - and there is potential to save some serious bank!

When I got married last September, my hubby-to-be and I had a crew of hilarious goofballs serving as our groomsmen. We decided to treat them to J.Crew suits as their groomsmen gifts (and to give ourselves the gift of piece of mind, knowing they had no excuse to not man up and look great on our day). We wanted to find ties that went with our pewter and orange WCP (wedding color palette, obv)... and found ourselves at a loss. We searched department stores in London, browsed online, looked everywhere. But the tie did not present itself.

While visiting the hubby's parents in Massachusetts, we took a little trip to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. How thrilled were we when we walked into the Hugo Boss outlet and found these dandies on display:

A bargain bagged! (Photo by Snap!)

They were perfect. Dressy without being snooty or overly shiny. Simple and chic and the perfect hue.

And... drumroll please... Hugo Boss ties like these retail for $95, but at the outlet the ties were $35 each!

Bargain bagged.

So, while one should never count on the outlets, don't shy away either! You never know what you will find - and you just might find the perfect item to compliment your wedding vision.

Cheers,