Saying "I Do" at Disney

First of all, apologies for the irregular blogging this week. Four consecutive weekends of travel have taken their toll here at AWW... But! We'll be here all week! Try the veal.

This weekend, I am off to Disney World with the hubby. He will be doing a consulting project while I practice being a trophy wife - hitting the gym, sitting by the pool, reading chick lit on my Kindle. I haven't been to Disney World since I was six (and was too shy to talk to Minnie Mouse) so I am pretty excited to see how the place has changed. And to ride the rollercoasters.

I also hope to catch a glimpse of some weddings while we're there, as I must admit I'm fascinated by the whole "Disney Fairy Tale Weddings" culture.

I mean, this? Is undeniably cheesy:

Photo via About.com

But all of this? I could get into:

Photo via Luxury Launches

As it turns out, you don't have to invite Mickey and Minnie and arrive in Cinderella's carriage if you get hitched in Disney World (unless you want to, that is). Au contraire, Disney can put on a heckofa classy party too - thanks to this guy:

Photo via Disney Weddings

All hail David Tutera, lord of the classy wedding! David and Disney have joined forces to create Disney's Couture Collection - one of three different wedding collections from which a Disney bride can choose. This is the most flexible of the three collections, with an emphasis on personalization. After choosing one of the four themes depicted above, you can customize your wedding menu, decor, and more.

Being a Disney princess come cheap though. Disney Couture weddings start at $65,000 (Eek!). The other collections are less pricey but also less customizable. Quite.

I remain of a mixed opinion about weddings chez Disney. Perhaps our little vacay will sway me one way or the other.

Would you ever have a Disney wedding? 

Cheers,

Friday Fashionspiration #5: The Be All End All Bouquet Bag

A mayjah shout-out to Brides magazine's Tweeters for calling our attention to Judith Leiber's new bridal bag collection - the perfect way to end this week's alternative flower kick!

Behold the BLING:

Photo via Bazaar Blog

This collection, which also includes fabric bags and a fabulous bedazzled wedding cake miniaudiere (is it wrong to describe Leiber's bags as bedazzled? Probably.), will be available in February 2011. So brides, start pinching those pennies! Based on Leiber's other creations, I suspect these babies will go for between $5,000-$6,000 a pop.

Rather the ultimate bridal accessory, no?

Happy Weekend!

Cheers,

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 Bouquet Alternative: Sugar Flowers!

We are on a bouquet kick here at AWW...

Yesterday we posted about a great way to immortalize your bridal bouquet. Today, we are very excited to share an alternative to the traditional flower bouquet: sugar flowers!

Chef Victoria Cen of Numily Creations was one of the talented wedding vendors who attended NYC Wedding Connection on October 14 (get the deets on our next event here!). Victoria makes gobsmacking cakes like this one, inspired by Klimt's "The Kiss":

Photos courtesy of Victoria Cen at Numily Creations

She has also come up with a fun and innovative alternative to a traditional floral bouquet - the sugar flower bouquet:

Now, this gal is so talented that she can basically make any flower out of sugar, matched to any wedding color palette. Her bouquets can be carried by the bride and bridesmaids, and her sugar flowers can also be used as boutonnieres.

Check out these same sugar flowers in action as cake decor:

Lovely.

Sugar flowers are a great alternative to regular flowers. Here's why:

*They are better for the environment.

*They are long-lasting (both during your wedding day and as a keepsake afterwards).

*They can be matched to even the most fantastical wedding color palettes.

*Plus, sugar flowers are a great way to have your favorite flowers at your wedding, regardless of the season!

*And you can eat them. If you really want to.

What's not to love?

Click here to contact Victoria and see more of her creations.

Cheers,

Bridal Tip: Immortalize Your Bouquet

One of the best things about being a bride adviser is sharing lessons learned - both the good and the bad - from my own wedding. From finding a nice hanger for your wedding dress to freezing your wedding cake... these are the little details that can make a big difference.

I learned a TON from bridal blogs and magazines when planning my wedding. But one of my favorite lessons (and its accompanying memento) came courtesy of my mother-in-law. The day after my wedding, my mother-in-law whisked my bridal bouquet away... and I didn't see it for several months. I was a little nervous - after all, I hadn't given her permission to take my bouquet and I had no idea what she had done with it. Was she having it pressed? Frozen? What else can you even do with a bouquet?

Well, something like this:

Photos via Salt Marsh Pottery

How brilliant is this? Salt Marsh Pottery, in Dartmouth, MA, creates these lovely "wedding commemoratives" by pressing the bouquet flowers into the clay, arranging and drying them, and then painting and glazing. The entire process is done by hand. They make a variety of products, from bowls and large plates to more affordable trivets:

Their smallest piece would be well suited to your groom's boutonniere:

The perfect wedding mementos to feather your newlywed nest!

Former brides, what did *you* do with your bouquet?

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,