{a quiet moment}

{via this is glamorous}

{grace}

{chiffon, tulle & lace}

{elizabeth fillmore via one lovely day}

{pleats & tulle}

{roza gough by patric shaw for vogue russia brides, S/S 2011, oh fashion models via this is glamorous}

me, you and everyone we know...

...are over at the BHLDN website right now, so it's running ve r y s lo w l y. At one point I think it actually went down completely, so if you didn't get a chance to see it, I grabbed some images.
I knew I would love it! My favorite surprise is that some of the gowns are very reasonably priced... my least favorite surprise is that some of them are not. Most run somewhere between $1000 and $2000, (not an unreasonable amount in my opinion). Then there are a couple in the $600 range, and a couple in the $5000 range.
I found lots of the accessories, cover-ups, shoes, bags, etc. to be things that can be found elsewhere... not in exact replica, but similar. The images I chose are of things I felt were fresh (at least to my eyes).
I was slightly underwhelmed by the bridesmaids dresses. I was expecting a little less J. Crew, a little more... something else. I also think that if the bride is wearing a $1600 dress, the bridesmaid isn't - so the prices seemed off kilter to me in relation to the wedding gowns.
I really loved lots of their hair accessories and the shoe selection was right up my alley. Aesthetically, I loved all of their lingerie. It was a nice combination of sexy and feminine without being vampy. Most of it was very boudoir though, not a lot of shaping or supporting going on.
I loved the jewelry. Lots of the BHLDN stuff seemed to be very similar to things you'd find at the Anthro site, but I like that we are getting away from so much glitz and bling and into more eclectic stuff for weddings.
All in all, I could see saving up my money for some of the more unique pieces. What is everyone else's take? I'm so curious to know what you all think.

{jenny packham spring summer 2011}

{images: photography by ellen von unwerth for jenny packham spring summer 2011 campaign via studded hearts and vogue}

birdcage brights

I tend to shy away from the conventional, so it comes as no surprise that these brightly colored birdcages sing to me. I love the classic shapes and the color adds just the creative touch I crave. From Wedding Aisle.

{little white dress}

{tiiu kuik by michelle ferrara for vogue novias f/w 2010 via fashion gone rogue}

ericabstudios: wedding tutorials for DIYers

{ "make your own boutonniere" pdf tutorial }

i discovered ericabstudios through her lovely gardenia hair flower, see below, but came away intrigued by her boutonniere and birdcage veil tutorials, all sent as pdf instructions on how to make the lovely items you see here, and thought i'd share with you all.

i love the idea of making my own... i can follow simple instructions... maybe? these tutorials don't break the bank, and there's no shipping cost. tempting...

 
 

for more info, see ericabstudios.etsy.com

etsy wedding giveaway: vintage french lace + floral fascinator from mignonne handmade

{vintage french lace + silk flower clip }

ooh la la! jenn of mignonne handmade is back from a trip to france, scouring for vintage finds to include in her lovely work, and she has graciously agreed to give one of her new creations to you!

here's how she describes it:

it's hand cut, hand pressed pinkish-brown silk flower with vintage details: the stamens are vintage french, found in a flea market in Geneva, Switzerland; the lace accent is a vintage find from Lyon, France; the leaf is a vintage millinery leaf from Japan. It is anchored with felt at the back and has a metal clip that can be fastened to clothes or hair. The flower is around 5" in diameter.

if you're in the phoenix area, jenn also works with real and handmade flowers for weddings, check out joliejourflowers.com. pics of her trip to France are on her blog joliejourflowers.blogspot.com, and joliejour.etsy.com,her other etsy shop, is a mix of flea market vintage finds and hand-crafted lovelies.

TO ENTER: comment on this post with either a favorite reading you're including in your wedding (or wish you could include!), a favorite quote about love, or another favorite from her shop mignonne handmade. no need to include your email address, i will find you!

giveaway ends next friday at midnight PDT. (yeah! daylight savings! woo.)

everyone who enters will receive a 5% discount on anything in her shop. enjoy!





more at mignonnehandmade.etsy.com

hats: not just for snowstorms.

Anyone out there planning an outdoor fall wedding? Wouldn't that white hat, (maybe with a small blusher) be perfect? I just loved the other hat too much not to post it, both from Yellowfield. Contemplating wearing more hats...

gorgeous

These gorgeous photos landed in my inbox this morning, and I couldn't resist sharing them. Jennifer Behr has always been one of my favorite accessories designers, and it looks like her 2010 Bridal Collection is one of her best efforts yet. They make me wish that my hair were not falling out at record breaking speeds because of a giant post-baby hormone adjustment. If I attached any of these to my head, I'm pretty sure they would just slide off onto the floor. My ponytail is more like a My Little Ponytail. I understand now why women go out and get the obligatory short "mom cut" after they have kids. They don't have enough hair to pull off anything else! Sigh.

oh my deer

Even though I've seen a thousand headband designs, these seem so fresh and different! From Oh My Deer.
Via Oh Joy!

brenda's birdcages

Brenda makes the cutest veils! Birdcage + Feather/Flower Combo = Beautiful Vintage Style Without Looking Costume-y.

5eizen: beautiful, simple, occasionally avant garde

{ elle bloom series ring pillow in brown }

some people have a voice that you just recognize instantly -- in their writing, in their art, in song -- unmistakable and original. i have felt that way for a while as i've come across 5eizen's work and finally visited her shop -- there's just something about her style.

she's also the first person i've come across who will take your inspiration board (or crib one from snippet&ink!) and come up with custom items to match... keep an eye on her store. the prices are (crazy) reasonable, and she's adding more weddingy things (invitations!) soon.






more at 5eizen.etsy.com