Monday, April 30, 2012

SDSW Vendor Spotlight

Bride Couture

14033 Midland Rd.,
Poway, CA 92064

www.bridecouture.com

Specializing in beautiful high-end
designer sample wedding gowns.





 
Bride Couture carries designer wedding dresses from the world’s top designers and sells them off the rack at unbelievable prices. Their discount wedding dresses are sample gowns from high-end salons all over the country that have never been worn for a wedding or altered. Why pay full price for your dream dress when you can get a current season overstock or discontinued gown at 50-80% off retail. They carry a large selection of gowns including Amsale, Christos, Anne Barge, Carolina Herrera, Monique
Lhuillier, and Vera Wang wedding dresses. 


Zelo Photography

The entire selection of couture wedding dresses is available online to browse and purchase and they will ship them to you to try on in the comfort of your own home. Whether you are looking for a mermaid, A-line, or dropped waist style gown in silk satin, lace, or taffeta you are sure to find it in our
"Designer Wedding Dresses" section.

You may also schedule a private appointment at their boutique in Poway, CA for a truly relaxing and personal shopping experience.

A Tip From Bride Couture
“Stick to your budget and be savvy!”
 



 Weekly Special &
Special For SDSW 

Blog Readers

Bride Couture features one gown each week at 10%, so check their website weekly.

And just for SDSW readers, enter SDStyle10 at checkout and receive an additional 10% off.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fashion Friday

Today we are giving you a peek at Carolina Herrera's Spring 2013 Bridal Collection as well as her inspiration for the collection. They dresses are lovely and the styling is stunning!


Carolina's Inspiration:
“I had just seen the Cecil Beaton Exhibit in London and was so taken with it that I wanted to design a collection based on the beauty he portrayed - the blacks, the whites, the fantasy of it all.”
With an innovative approach to construction and a strong concentration on glamour and individuality, Carolina Herrera presents her Spring 2013 Bridal Collection. “This is not a collection that is occupied by trends, but one with a more personal purpose. Each gown is designed with a speci c woman in mind and with the intention of creating something that represents her personal style. There are gowns here for all types of brides and destinations,” says Herrera.

Introducing playful separates such as the lace blouse that accompanies a strapless gown to the detachable ball skirt that transitions into a short cocktail style for the reception, an ample range is

shown for all types of brides. Offering a juxtaposition of shapes and volumes, the Spring/Summer 2013 collection caters to various aesthetics and tastes.

“On her wedding day a woman should be certain that she has found a dress that makes her feel con dent and above all else, beautiful. It’s important that we provide women with a range of styles and shapes to suit their personal style.”


Embodying the notions of borrowed, blue, old and new, Herrera accessorized many of the looks with jewelry from her personal collection. “It has to be personal. Without a touch of personality, it’s just a dress.” As always the petticoat of each gown is embroidered with the bride’s initials in blue matching the grosgrain bow stitched into every waist. “I love the hidden details.”


INDIANA-
Ivory cotton and silk mikado blazer with duchess satin detail, ivory silk crepe pant, ivory lace and organza
blouse with bow detail

IVY
Ivory lace column gown with blue lace detail and matching lace blouse

ISADORA
Ivory faille off shoulder ball gown with blue ribbon detail

IRIS
Ivory silk taffeta skirt with pockets, ivory silk tulle embroidered top

INGA
Ivory fully embroidered lace v-neck gown

IMAN
Off white silk hammered satin crepe cowl neck gown with embroidery

ISIS
Off white silk mikado strapless peplum gown with embroidered skirt

IDELLE
Ivory organza jacquard strapless ball gown

IDA
Ivory silk faille column gown with ivory duchess satin bow detail

ILIANA
Off white silk gazar gown with silk organza band appliqué

ISLA
Ivory silk mikado strapless gown with embroidery, ivory fox bolero

INES
Champagne satin crepe one shoulder draped gown with brooch

IVANA
Ivory cotton and silk mikado strapless gown with embroidered bustier and back bustle

ISOLDE
Ivory silk faille strapless trench gown with button detail

ISABELLE
Multi colored silk tulle gown with dogwood oral embroidery and matching veil

ILONA
Champagne and ivory strapless gown with draped pocket detail

INA
White crinkle chiffon gown with embroidered straps

INGRID
Ivory guipure lace column gown with ivory faille overskirt and hand painted veil

IRENA
Off white silk mikado one shoulder bow gown with silk fl ower detail

ILYSSA
Off white organza strapless ball gown with black picot edge trimming

IRMA
Off white dot organza column gown with tiered over skirt and black ribbon

IGGY
Ivory faille strapless bubble dress




Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Real Wedding Wednesday

Leah Ellis & Jason Reiss
South Coast Winery


Friday the 13th is this couple’s lucky number. Leah Ellis and Jason Reiss met through a mutual friend and continued learning more about each other during their weekly meetings to watch their favorite vampire television show. Jason worked up the courage to ask out his bride-to-be and scheduled their first date for Friday the 13th.  Their romance grew and it wasn’t long before Leah found herself planning an intimate garden wedding at the South Coast Winery in Temecula, California. Soft hues of tangerine, yellow and white mixed with candlelight created a memorable evening for everyone as they celebrated their love and joy.























Ingredients
Ceremony and Reception Venue South Coast Winery
Coordinator Vanessa Burroughs 
Officiant Reverend Dominic J. Rivkin 
Photography L Parker Photography 
Florist The Divine Event
Linens South Coast Winery  http://www.wineresort.com/
Entertainment Sterling Productions & Rob Szajkowski    
Catering South Coast Catering 
Wedding Cake Cakes to Celebrate
Invitations/Stationery Papyrus 
Hair and Make-up Shear Envy Salon 
Dress Alfred Angelo
Men’s Formalwear Macy’s 

Jewelry/Rings Jared’s 
Honeymoon Disneyland


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Yummy Inspiration

We are in love with ALL these yummy (and super-cute) sweet treats created by The Crimson Cake.
Styling and design by Alicia Phoenix & Sarah Pilapil
Photography by Bubba-Loo Photography

 



Monday, April 23, 2012

Monday's Must-Have

Themed Engagement Session...

We love the idea of a themed engagement session! So there was no question that we just had to share these great pictures sent to us from White Haute Photography






Thursday, April 19, 2012



Today I thought we'd share an article in our new Spring Insert about tents for your celebration. 

Image provided by Raj Tents, LLC

Hollywood Glamour:
Styling Your Big Day with Tents


By: Kristen Castillo

When you think “tent” you may think camping in the mountains or a county fair, but tents can be so much more glamorous. Just ask some of the famous people who’ve gotten hitched under a tent, like Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky; Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth; and Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg.

Consider a tent for your wedding too. After all, you don’t have to be a celebrity to celebrate in style!

Appeal
Host the festivities under a tent and your guests will definitely remember your big day.

“People want their wedding to be personal, so a tent that’s personalized to the bride and groom makes it feel more special,” says Dominic Mitchell, CEO and co-founder of Raj Tents, LLC.

Richard Palmer-Jeffrey, director of sales at Raphael’sParty Rentals agrees, saying tents are growing in popularity as more weddings are happening outside of traditional venues like ballrooms and popping up at private estates.

“It just changes the whole atmosphere of an event,” says Palmer-Jeffrey. “It’s so much more ambiance.”

Kristen Elgo of WhiteWeddingDay Events, who handles sales and design for Pacific Event Productions finds, “couples want to transform the space into an extension of the house and create an elegant and unique dinning experience for their friends and extended family.”

Tents can makeover a variety of venues like parks, golf courses and even a family estate from charming to “wow.”

“With a tent, you can transform the space from a lawn or tennis court to your own private, one of a kind event space.”  explains Elgo, who is 2011 Event Professional of the Year for San Diego’s chapter of NACE, the National Association of Catering Executives.

Not Just for Bad Weather
One of the biggest misconceptions about tents is that they’re only something to consider in case of rain or cold weather.

“Tenting is not purely a means of covering from the elements,” says Mitchell, whose famous clients include David Beckham, Goldie Hawn, Hugh Hefner, Richard Branson and Salma Hayek. “It’s a décor element in itself. It frames the view and provides luxury.”

Tents can be amazing in any kind of weather. They can shade you on a hot day, create a cozy feeling at night and really turn your party into something magical.

“Tenting is functional, but it can be so much more,” says Mitchell, a member of the Set Decorators Society of America too, with Raj tents appearing in movies like “Bridesmaids,” “Friends With Benefits,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” as well as TV shows including “Weeds,” “Royal Pains,” and “Private Practice.”

Tents can be open or closed on the sides. Usually in the summer, there’s no need to do walls or doors for a tent since the temperature is so comfortable. Still, if you’re worried about a chilly night, you can ask your rental company to set up some heat lamps.

Your rental designer will help you choose a location at your venue that best showcases the tent. Many times tents are placed on the beach, the lawn, or even poolside to provide gorgeous views of the ocean, the mountains or neighboring greenery.

It’s not always easy to picture what your party will look like, but rental companies can really help create a vision. “We have a vast album of pictures to see the previous events,” says Palmer-Jeffrey whose designers Raphael’s can create a video “walk-through” of the tent at the location, using a Google Earth picture of the venue with a 3-D view of the location.

Colors & Styles
Tents are handcrafted to be both durable and beautiful. Many have embroidery and designs to enhance their look.

 “A tent makes everyone feel at home,” says Mitchell who knows a tent’s color scheme and overall design creates an event theme.

“We cover from neutral to the very colorful,” he says explaining that while clear or white tents are typical for most weddings, where “ivory and cream” signify “understated elegance,” some weddings can be very colorful.

Indian and Moroccan themes for example can have very bold colors like hot pink, gold, purple, bright blue and orange. In contrast, a “beach chic” theme may have “washed-out aqua tones,” accented with “sea spray colored drapes.”

Fabrics can be draped along the walls and from the ceiling to add interest and drama to the area.

Lighting & Extras
A tent is a great party rental, but it’s not the only rental to consider. Setting up the right lighting for example can create an inviting and cozy space.

“Lighting is an important element of any event for your photographer and your guest experience,” says Elgo.  “With a tent you have more options than many other venues to use the roof of the tent to rig pin spots on the tables, illuminate the dance floor, perimeter and exterior lighting effects the list goes on.”

Hang chandeliers and lanterns from the tent’s ceiling; decorate the interior with reflective elements like mirror balls and glass fixtures; and use lots of flowers for accents and pops of color.

Use lighting to change the mood during the event. You can choose a variety of colors and intensities to set the stage for your party’s big moments from the cocktail hour to dinner to dancing.

You can also use rentals to designate different spaces within the tent, such as setting up lounge seating on colorful rugs on the lawn. Raphael’s has a decking system they install to create a lounge area, complete with fabrics, lounge furniture and faux shrub walls.

They can also tent the roof of a hotel too. “It closes it in and defines the area,” says Palmer-Jeffrey.

While the tent design process is a lot of work, it’s rewarding too. “It’s not a product,” says Mitchell. “It’s a service. We want to please customers.”

Elgo agrees: “As a design company, we thrive on this and love working with clients to incorporate lighting, fabric treatments, custom flooring and event custom built features unique to that space and that event.”

Get creative in your wedding design with cool rentals like lights, lounges and tents. Then prepare to celebrate in style!

Tenting Tips:
Be patient. The tenting process can be long and involved, since it includes choosing a tent, creating the design and implementing the plan. Closer to the wedding day, tent set-up typically starts three to four days before the wedding.

Hire a wedding planner. They can help you coordinate your tent plans with your rental company designers and other vendors including your caterer, venue staff, photographer and videographer.

Make tenting a priority. If you know you really want a tent for your wedding, don’t book your venue until you’re sure tenting is allowed on site. Try to first meet with a tent designer who can help you find a venue that’s suitable for tenting. “By using a tent on private residence, you have the design freedom to do whatever you want,” says Elgo.

Go big or stay small. Whether your guest list tops out at 50 people or 500, you can easily host the party under a size-appropriate tent.

Consider multiple tents. One big tent can cover your whole event, but you can add more event excitement with a few tents, such as small tents for food and bar service, and tenting on a patio, as well as separate tents for the cocktail party and the dinner reception. “Tents are admired from the outside and the inside,” notes Mitchell.

Don’t Forget the Paperwork. Tenting typically requires permits and insurance, but the good news? Your tent designers can handle all these details for you – ensuring safety and peace of mind! “We’ll take care of everything,” says Palmer-Jeffrey.

Smile. The wedding day goes fast so savor the moments and smile for the camera. “All people have left is memories and photos,” explains Mitchell.

Image provided by Raj Tents, LLC

Image provided by Raj Tents, LLC

Image provided by Raj Tents, LLC