Friday Fashionspiration #6: Best Disney Wedding Dresses

A quick note from Jen: The hubs and I are off to Disney World today for a week of work for him and guilt-free pool-lounging for me. I am also going to cut myself off from the blogosphere/Twittersphere - which I think everyone should do once in awhile. So the AWW blog will be quiet next week but back in full force on November 15!

In honor of our Disney adventure, this week's Friday Fashionspiration comprises a few of my fave Disney Fairy Tale Wedding dresses. Yes, the label is cheesy. And the names of the dresses are also cheesy. And yes, there is probably a premium price attached because of the Disney association, which is lame. But putting those things aside, I think these dresses are actually quite lovely.

Sleeping Beauty is anything but a snoozer! Love the cap sleeves and detail on the full skirt.

Via Big Day Plunge

 Jasmine is hotter than hot in a lot of good ways. I love the simplicity and the color. Fab for a destination wedding.

Via Kleinfeld

Snow White is no-nonsense, understated and elegant. Happy, not dopey.

Via Weddingo

And finally, a gown fit for a princess: Cinderella. Off the shoulder with sheer cap sleeves? Love.

Via Big Day Plunge

Indeed, it's almost as good as the real thing:

~                         ~                        ~                        ~

Kirstie Kelly designed the dresses above, but bridal king Alfred Angelo is at the helm of Disney's newest bridal collection - the Fairy Tale Princess Collection (IT JUST GETS CHEESIER!). The gowns were unveiled at Spring 2011 NYC Bridal Market last month and will be available for purchase in February 2011. Aisle Dash has the full slide show. (Their Bridal Market coverage rocks by the way, so be sure to click around when you follow that link!)

See y'all soon. I'm going to Disney World!

Cheers,

The Great Short Wedding Dress Debate

Short knockouts from Fall 2010 collections: Monique Lhuillier, Jewel by Priscilla of Boston, and Oscar de la Renta (all photos via NYMag.com)

The bridal tweet-and-blogosphere is abuzz these days with the Great Short Wedding Dress Debate. Short dresses are becoming a bridal runway feature, and everyone is weighing in on the big question:

Would you show a little leg on your wedding day?

Priscilla of Boston opened three of its four Fall 2010 shows (Melissa Sweet, Platinum Bridal, and Priscilla of Boston proper) with short dresses. Classic bridal gown designers like Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier are starting to feature multiple short dresses in their collections. And at the recent NYC Bridal Market, short dresses were everywhere! (For a great blog post on the best short dresses from NYC, check out one of our fave bridal bloggers, The Knotty Bride.)

Opening (left - rosettes AND pockets?! LOVE) and closing (right) looks at Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston Fall 2010

I have never been a big fan of the short wedding dress. I found it to be too informal and simply not "here comes the bride" enough. But recent events and dazzling runway designs are starting to change my mind.

A wedding should reflect the bride and groom, and a bride's wedding dress should reflect the way she wants to celebrate while complimenting her body.

Coveting a shortie? Listen up, girl:

*Short dresses are ideal for a bride with great gams.

*They are also perfect for petite brides who want the fun of a poufy skirt without drowning in yards and yards of fabric.

*Short dresses are also a great choice for less traditional wedding celebrations (such as cocktail receptions) and sophisticated, cosmopolitan, frou-frou-free weddings.

A friend of mine got married last weekend in a dress that looked just like this:

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2009

And she. Looked. KILLER.

Below the knee, we of course have to have a moment for the impact that Mad Men has had on the fashion world lately. I have a feeling we will be seeing plenty of retro-style, tea length dresses with layers of tulle in 2011. Dresses such as this beauty:

Sarantina by Sarah Jassir Fall 2011 (via Martha Stewart Weddings)

Who knew showing some leg could look so bridal? Consider me convinced.

If you're loving these dresses but still unsure, remember that short dresses also make FAB reception dresses! Ooh. That opens up a whole new can o' worms...

Cheers,

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

You know you want more where this came from... (photo via Project Wedding)

There has been so much great coverage of this season's NYC Bridal Market, it could take weeks to sort through all the posts and dresses. Never fear, we have boiled down the best Bridal Market coverage and, since it's Friday and this was the big birthday week and we are headed to Toronto today for a fabulous wedding (read: we don't have the time to write a real blog post ourselves), we're just going to throw a concise yet fabulous link list atcha. Enjoy!

Best Bridal Market Bloggers

Project Wedding Blog

Weddingbee

Yours in Bridal on Facebook

The Knotty Bride

Have another favorite link? Leave it for all of us in the comments!

Stay tuned... next week we are back to work and blogging, and will be posting some amazing photos from recent runway shows and weddings as well as interviews with inspiring wedding professionals!

Cheers,

The PERFECT Wedding Gown Transformation

Merci, Monique!

For her Fall 2011 Bridal show, Monique Lhuillier transformed a Spring 2011 runway knockout into a to-die-for wedding gown.

Left: Spring 2011 via NYMag.com  |  Right: Bridal Fall 2011 via Project Wedding

Perfection such as this is rather beyond words. So I will stop writing and just continue to drool.

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #4: More Bumpin' Bridal Gowns!

I have gotten such a fantastic to reponse to Tuesday's post on Jessica Iverson's spectacular maternity bridal collection that I wanted to toss a few more favorite dresses into the blogosphere. So without further ado...

Behold, the Madeline. The rosettes above the belly! The sheer, criss-crossing back straps! Youthful and delightful!

The Madeline (all images via Maternity Bride by Jessica Iverson Couture)

Next up, the Stephanie. The beaded straps add a touch of bling while the chiffon tiers are playful and flattering. A fun silhouette for the pregnant bride.

The Stephanie

And finally, the Naomi. This is a classic "here comes the bride dress" and the little lace jacket offers extra coverage if you're knocked up and not as ripped as Bethenny Frankel (and let's face it - she was rather otherworldly in her bridal buffness, no?). This taffeta number is covered in lace details and has a lace-up corset back.

The Naomi

Viva la bumping bride!

Cheers,

P.S. For more maternity bridal inspiration, check out this post from the SmartBride Boutique blog!

Etsy's BEST Wedding Dress Hangers

As much as I loved my wedding day, there are a few things I would have done differently - and that I do do differently with my brides now that I am a bride adviser. My wedding day "woulda, coulda, shoulda"'s are all in the wee details - and I'll always be grateful that nothing mayjah went awry. Still, there are some small but powerful lessons to be imparted unto the nearlywed. So listen up, lovelies.

There is no excuse to burden your wedding dress of dreams with a crappy, ugly hanger. 

You will only wear this dress on this one very important day. And unless you plan to cut a viewing window into your archival box, you will not lay eyes on it again for decades. Your photographer will inevitably snap your gown. So give it a chance to look as fabulous on its hanger as it will look on you! Or, well, almost as fabulous, obv.

Case in point:

I loved my dress. It did not deserve this fugtastic hanger. (Photo by Snap!)

Fortunately, a closetful of creative folks on Etsy have caught on to this fashion tragedy and come up with some very cute, affordable options that will turn your hanging dress into a true photo op.

The "Original Silver" hanger has gotten a lot of attention in the wedblogosphere, and for good reason! This hanger is simple and adorable. You can personalize your hanger with up to 14 characters. The artist, LilaFrances, is clearly an expert metal manipulator. A great choice for a light, simple, classic wedding dress.

Photo via LilaFrances on Etsy.com

If your dress has a little more oomph, you need a hanger that is stronger. Here is a lovely wooden hanger covered in silk, with cute little ties on each end to secure your dress straps.

Photo via Silayaya on Etsy.com

I also love these monogrammed padded woven hangers. The ribbon and monogram color are customizable - hello, wedding color palette! A hanger like this would look great with a vintage-looking ivory gown.

Photo via NutfieldWeaver on Etsy.com

If I could do it all again, which would I choose? Well, I think I would have to stay loyal to my favorite color, orange, which was also the accent color in my wedding color palette. Finding this orange satin dress hanger sent a momentary pang of longing through my heart and made me wish I knew how to use Photoshop. A to the Dorable.

Photo via Kim Grant, Ink on Etsy.com

Want to have a super cute dress photo? Get personalized hangers for your bridesmaids too! 

Which hanger is your favorite? What other creative wedding dress hangers or photo op options are out there? Leave a comment!

Cheers,

Gorgeous Gowns for Brides with Bumps

At AnyWay Weddings, we specialize in working with brides (and grooms!) who are in a time crunch. There are many reasons why a couple might not have all the time in the world to plan their nuptials, but I suspect that chief among them is having a bun in the oven.

It used to be that pregnant brides didn't have much of a choice when picking a wedding gown. Fortunately, as more brides decide to commence baby-makin' before walking down the aisle, wedding dress designers are starting to catch on and create gorgeous options for the glowing bumping bride.

In researching various maternity wedding dress options, I stumbled upon this lovely website: Jessica Iverson Maternity - a woman who not only designs gorgeous dresses but was also smart enough to buy the domain name "maternitybride.com" (I say, with my business hat on)! Jessica (is it me or does she have a striking resemblance to Naomi Watts?) was a pregnant bride herself, and clearly her experience shaped her vision for her gorgeous, affordable and eco-minded collection.

Here are my top three favorites from Jessica's stunning maternity collection:

1. The Astrea - I love the sheer straps here. Check out the beaded detail! It's difficult to see in these sun-drenched photos but the entire gown is beaded. Lovely.

The Astrea (this and all images via Maternity Bride by Jessica Iverson Couture)

The Astrea

2. The Felicia - The unexpected one-shoulder sheer strap makes this classic draped chiffon silhouette quite chic! I love how the trail of pearl-beading creates what Jessica calls a "floating bodice" effect (check out the detail shot). So unique!

The Felicia

The Felicia

3. The Julia - Fit for a princess! Who says that just because you're pregnant you can't feel like a princess on your wedding day? The details on this gown are exceptional. Check out the floral pickups, pleated organza hem, and the lace-up corset back.

The Julia

The Julia

Perhaps the best thing about gorgeous wedding dresses like these is that they are helping break down the stigma that has been attached to pregnant brides. Considering that brides with bumps are comprise a mayjah part of AnyWay Weddings' clientele, we are so excited to be seeing designers like Jessica rise in prominence.

Which gown is your favorite? 

Are you pregnant and planning a wedding? Contact us today!

Cheers,

NYFW Fashionspiration #2: Best Bridal Reception Dresses

For brides with the budget and drive to party long into the night, a reception dress makes a lot of sense. If you are one of these fabulous brides, you need look no further than New York Fashion Week for some reception dress Fashionspiration!

Behold, my favorites...

For the sophisticated bride:

Carmen Marc Valvo Spring 2011 (this and all images via NYMag.com)

Hello Pretty! Can you just picture this dress with some glittery heels? A to the Dore.

For the, frankly, hot bride:

Christian Siriano Spring 2011

Now this is a party dress! But the sheer, ruched draping keeps it from being over-the-top glitzy. I love everything about this dress and I think we should all own it.

For the classic bride:

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011

Granted, this dress does not exactly scream "PARTY!" But I find it sweet, simple, lovely, and easy to wear. The perfect antidote to a big ol' wedding gown.

For the truly fashion-forward bride:

Marchesa Spring 2011

This Marchesa concoction may be high maintenance, but it is also high, high, HIGH fashion. The train? I heart. And I'm hoping it bustles for party time. This dress, of course, would also make a jaw-dropping wedding dress. Very vintage-y and impossibly chic.

And finally, for the bride who just wants an excuse to wear another exquisite long dress besides her wedding gown:

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011

This dress? Is perfection. And if there is anything a bride deserves on her wedding day, it's perfection, right?

Cheers,

NYFW Fashionspiration #1: Best Could-Be Wedding Gowns

New York Fashion Week is always too fabulous for words, and last week's Spring 2011 collections certainly did not disappoint. There is simply too much fabulosity to contain in one blog post, so herein I present favorite Spring '11 gowns in which it would be A to the Mazing to walk (float?) down the aisle.

Just to clarify: these gowns are from the Spring 2011 collections, not bridal collections! I always love when a bride finds the perfect white dress to use as her wedding gown. Straying from bridal collections keeps your look unique and (not so much with the gowns below but usually) saves considerate dough.

Ahem. Drum roll please...

Marchesa Spring 2011 (This and all images via NYMag.com)

I mean. Are you kidding me with this gorgeousness? Somehow the Marchesa gals' designs get better and better with each season that passes. I love the vintage luxe feel of this dress. And one shoulder is always classic and sexy!

Also reliably classic? Oscar de la Renta. I love this champagne confection:

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011

Ooh! Ooh! But I A to the Dore this one too! Perfect for a girly bride who loves pink:

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011

I'm not sure what fabrics make up this dress, but I love the look of the texture and the modern neckline to boot:

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011

Speaking of lovely necklines:

Tadashi Shoji Spring 2011

And I always love me a good boat neck:

Carmen Marc Valvo Spring 2011

This dress even comes with its own train! A friend of mine got married in a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta boat neck gown and since then I have been a big fan of this look for brides. The high neck is conservative, yet classic and very flattering to a variety of body types.

And finally, because I have a hunch (named Vera Wang) that wedding dresses of color will be making more and more of a splash, a beautiful gray number also from Carmen Marc Valvo:

Carmen Marc Valvo Spring 2011

Plus, the bow belt doubles as "something blue"! Now, this may not seem bridal to you... but remember Vera Wang's lavender dress from Fall 2010? Purples, greens, and grays are regularly popping up on bridal runways. Gray is our personal favorite alternate wedding gown hue. Just FYI.

Which of the above dresses is your favorite?

More to come tomorrow!

Cheers,

Quote of the Day

"The bride looked like a young Elizabeth Taylor in an Oscar de la Renta strapless gown with a low-cut bodice and a wildly frilly skirt that appeared to be made of feathers, clouds, whipped cream and youth." 

If this wedding doesn't look awesome I don't know what does! Photo via NYT

LOVE. 

This put a big smile on my face this morning. You must read the article if you haven't already - it's A to the Dorable!

Congrats to the amazing Lin Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal!

Cheers,

Bridal Tip: Don't Lose Sight of the Scale

NO, not this kind of scale! In fact I think if you are a bride you need to throw this kind of scale away! But that is a post for another day...

Today, we're talking about scale in design.

I was inspired to write about scale when our new Restoration Hardware TV stand arrived this morning (per my tweet)...

... and is way too big for our apartment. I mean. The thing comes almost up to our doorknob. It doesn't look that big in their photo, does it?

Seriously that TV must be like 100 inches. Our dinky little 46-incher is going to disappear on top of this thing!

But herein lies the lesson for brides. Scale is very, very important when planning your wedding. If you are getting married in a cute little white chapel or a quaint little red barn, there is no need to channel Melania Trump (whose vintage Dior was astounding) or Katie Price (a.k.a. Jordan, whose pink puffball was atrocious).

Other scale issues that are important to keep in mind are the following:

1. Accessories - it is a thrill to be a princess for a day, but keep the focus on your radiant smile instead of blinding your guests with a teetering tiara or Heart of the Ocean.

This, however? Is awesome.

2. Centerpieces - do you need a whole tree sitting atop a table when a few callas would suffice?

Peter Silvia Photography, via Stoneblossom

3. Bridal party - this is a tricky one, but personally I believe a smaller bridal party puts more focus on the bride and groom. Plus, fewer folks = less stress!

At AnyWay Weddings, we believe that you deserve to see your wedding day vision realized, even when planning in a pinch. However, bigger and blingier aren't always better. So don't lose sight of the scale when envisioning your dream day!

Cheers,