Rue La La! Nicole Miller Bridal Sale

Rue La La, a fantastic online shopping boutique, is having a GREAT sale on Nicole Miller dresses & Nicole Miller Bridal gowns until April 1st at 11am. If you would like an invitation to the sale you can email me and I'll send one over. I am really tempted to get the one in the middle to change into at the reception. It's only $250!

Heavy Hearted

I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone for the kind words of love & support our brave girl Antoinette. She is still fighting away. I knew she'd never give up without a strong fight. Thanks again. xoxo

Image: by Peter Van Beever

Allow Me To Explain

Posting is going to be light the next few days. Our best friend Antoinette has terminal cancer and she is at a critical stage right now as her health has taken a serious turn for the worse. As you could imagine my mind isn't really here right now so I apologize. We're just going to be spending a lot of time with her and her family at the hospital. She has a 6 year old daughter and this is just devastating to all of us to watch this happen to such an amazing woman who always has been so vivacious, fun-loving and full of life. We knew this was going to eventually happen but the reality of it is shocking.

Image: found here

Magnificent Marchesa!

Ok, now I know that I just rambled on about fighting crowds and angry brides but I must admit that I'm a bit tempted to head on over to the Marchesa sample sale this week. Glorious gowns, stunning coktail dresses and evening wear are anywhere from 50-80% off! Maybe I'll just pop in during my lunch hour...

Event Details:
Wed March 25th 8am-7pm
Thurs March 26th 8am-6pm
Warwick Hotel 65 West 54th Street, NYC

My Last Wedding Event? Say It Isn't So!

Last night I attended the Wedding Salon Event at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. Now I don't know if it's me, but I just feel like these wedding shows bring out the worst in brides. I've attended numerous events over the past 7 months and almost every time, minus the few smaller ones, I find myself wondering why did I even bother? This isn't to bash the organizers of the events at all....I have found some interesting vendors and ideas. But the majority of them are overcrowded, hot at h*ll and filled to the rim with angry brides desperate to get their hands on free alcohol and the infamous goodie bags. Last night I even saw a fight break out between a bride and an employee of the event. This bride actually threw something at the employee because she wasn't able to get the goodie bag she wanted. Now seriously...are they ever really worth it anyway?

Some highlights of the show? I met Deanna Papas, the bachelorette and co-host of the Get Married show on Lifetime and I also brushed past Colin Cowie on my way out. I must admit that was a bit of a thrill because he was one of the major reasons I even attended :) I was hoping to get to meet David Tutera but I just couldn't bear to hang around any longer after the goodie bag incident.

Here are some pix of some of the prettier things I came across.

Love this dress but the model didn't remember the designers name. She could only remember that it's sold at Bridal Reflections...

As I walked away from the show I found myself saying this is absolutely the last wedding event I attend. I just hope I have the restraint when the next one roles around...New York Magazines Wedding Event at the Met Pavillion on April 1 anyone?

Someecards Wedding Fun

Happy Monday everyone! I was browsing someecards this weekend and came across these funny wedding cards.

We have heard this more than once:

We're glad we haven't had this happen:

And I hope our wedding doesn't cause these reactions!:

Images: found at someecards

New Addition to the Family

Image: from my sister's wedding

Our beloved beta fish Komi passed about a month ago and we were really sad. We had him since last April, when he was part of the centerpiece at our table at my sister's wedding. Even though Komi's irreplaceable, today we got another Japanese fighting fish to fill the void that he left. We named him Parker after our upcoming wedding venue. He joins our African dwarf frog (Jen's allergic to animals or else we would consider more traditional pets) in our family. We consider ourselves the Jolie-Pitts of the aquatic world :)

Calling All NY Area Brides!

In case you haven't heard The Wedding Salon is holding their Spring event in NYC this coming Monday, March 23rd at The Roosevelt Hotel. I'm going and I can't wait to check out all of the amazing participants and, I can't lie, get my hands on the sure to be amazing goodie bag!

Visit The Wedding Salon and enter IWNY09C for two complimentary tickets....a $50 value!

Event Details:

Where: The Roosevelt Hotel – 45 East 45th Street (on the corner of 45th and Madison)

When: Monday, March 23rd from 4pm – 9pm

*We recommend that you arrive early to enjoy all of the unique features from The Wedding Salon.

Highlights:

• Couture fashion show by Bridal Reflections

• Victoria’s Secret lingerie lounge

• Exquisite table designs by celebrity designers, leading florists and top registries

• Leading bands, DJ’s and unique entertainment companies

• First class honeymoon destinations and wedding venues

• Top photographers, videographers and gift ideas

• Tastings by top caterers, restaurants and cake designers

Wedding Salon Exclusives:

• Sylvia Weinstock, Colin Cowie and Carley Roney from The Knot

• Beauty suite with complimentary services including hair and make-up consultations from Le Métier de Beauté at The John Barrett Salon of Bergdorf Goodman

• A fabulous gift bag featuring amazing products

Spring Has Sprung!

Hard to believe that spring begins today since I woke up to snow showers this morning. I guess technically we do still have a few more hours of winter so I'll just look forward to a beautiful spring weekend! Have a great one everybody!

Terrific Tape

I'm totally getting my hands on some decorative tape. I came across the idea on Twig & Thistle the other day and I think it's absolutely brilliant! Wrapping & decorating will never be the same. Check out TapeSwell & Boiler Design Office for different patterns.

Images: TapeSwell, I Love Sticky Tape

Inspiration Board - Retro Romance

Mood: romantic, elegant, feminine, retro glam
Color Palette: soft blush, pink and wine


Images: Top rowfrom left: Atelier Aimee dress, southern gothic (unknown),church at theknot.com, Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dress
Second row: bridesmaids at theknot.com, flowers at theknot.com
Middle row: rose bouquet by Nancy Cohn at WeddingChannel.com, cake at theknot.com, ring by Jose Villa
Bottom row: desk at alkemie, bowl at Green with Glamour, flowers at theknot.com, table at martha stewart weddings, room at alkemie

The Most Important Day of the Year!

Or at least my love thinks so. It's her bday today so I'll be nice and agree with her. We're going to celebrate tonite with a nice dinner at Del Posto. Can't wait to spoil her silly! Happy Birthday honey!

Image: found here

The Name Game

I came across The Name Game on WeddingChannel.com. Although J & I are not changing our last names right now, we've always tried to come up with options for a blended last name in case we ever have children. Most we've come up with are pretty funny, our most favorite being Johniello. The weddingchannel options are just hysterical! Try it out for yourselves!

I'm a Wedding Chicks Blogger too!

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone! I'm all decked out in my new green top and am feeling very lucky today.

Yesterday I was thrilled to receive an invitation to become a real bride blogger at Wedding Chicks! I am so excited and honored since I've been an avid reader of that fabulous blog for months now. So now in addition to here, I can also be found at So You're EnGAYged and Wedding Chicks! I'm going to be blogging my heart out! I just hope that J still wants to marry me after all of this :)

So You're EnGAYged launch!

I am so excited for the launch of So You're EnGAYged today, a fabulous new website for newly engaged gay couples created by the awesome Kelly Pritzel of Film Noir Photography and Two Brides Blog and Lara Swanson of Lara Swanson Photography. So You're EnGAYged is a great resource that helps match same-sex and allied couples with wedding vendors who actively support LGBT rights and freedoms. The site features same-sex couples blogging about their wedding planning experiences and I am thrilled to be part of this exciting endeavor! Check it out when you have a chance.

Making Progress!

Image: Just Daves Photos

We had a very exciting weekend and made a ton of progress on the wedding. We started it off with a trip to the jewelers on Saturday to pick up our wedding rings. We love them! Js is on the left and mine is on the right. Then Sunday we met with an officiant who we loved! She was absolutely perfect and I found myself tearing up when she read us sample readings. It all seems so official now and I am beyond excited!

Chin Up!

Oh what a day, what a day! Had a big curve ball thrown our way today but we're staying positive.

We do have some fun things on the agenda this weekend. Our rings came in so we're going to pick them up tomorrow. And we're going to meet with an officiant on Sunday so we'll keep moving along.

Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

Image: from Auburn & Ivory

Style Lust

OK I must admit I LOVE Olivia Palermo. I know she comes across as a total u know what on the City but since I adore her sense of style I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and chalk it all up to MTV editing her to look that way...

I just love how her hair looks in the pix. It's exactly what I want for the wedding!

Inspiration Board - Peach Dreams

Mood: sweet, girlish, charming

Color Palette: warm glowing range of peaches & pinks

Images: Top row from left: London sunset (unknown), cake from Modern Bride
April/May '09, girl from Glamour April '09
Middle row from left: votives from Luna Bazaar, table from Martha Stewart Weddings
Bottom row from left: place cards from Martha Stewart Weddings, dress from British Vogue, place setting from Modern Bride April/May '09

I want I want I want!

Long sexy legs so I can rock this dress at the after-party!

Great Gift Idea!

I came across this great magnetic frame today at I Heart Luxe. They come assorted colors & designs and are sold in sets of 3. I think they would be great as gift for our attendants!

Fabulous Photos - Jose Villa

I spent many hours this past weekend pouring over the blog of photographer extraordinaire Jose Villa. His images are truly stunning and I can't get them out of my mind. Here are a just a few of my favorites.




Images: All from Jose Villa's blog

Zip Me Up

3.1 Philip Lim

Lockheart

Kate Cusack

Versace

YSL

The spring-like weather today has awaken my oh so very dormant shopping bug. My number one must-have this spring is something with wavy layers of exposed zipper. Designers have been doing some really interesting things with zippers this season. And I just love how it's been worked in both soft & feminine or edgy punk ways. I'm not sure if I want a skirt or a shirt or a bag or maybe just a cool bracelet but I'm definitely going to be hitting up the shops soon.

Finally Friday!

Thankfully it's the end of another long work week. The weeks always seem to drag on this time of year and I'm really looking forward to catching up on a little shut eye. Hope you all have a good one!

Image: Camilla Akrans for Italian Elle

Magazine Madness - InStyle Weddings

I was so excited to see Sarah Shahi of The L Word fame on the cover of the InStyle Weddings Spring '09 issue this week. Now I know a bunch of my girlfriends will be very sad to know that she is recently married and expecting a baby, but I just love the pictorial! She looks blissful and absolutely stunning!

Check out a video of her covershoot here!

I am SO doing this!

This marries two of my greatest passions - illustrating and weddings! And what a fantastic keepsake!


At Dreamlines, you can have a custom sketch of your wedding gown made for, what I consider, a fairly affordable price. The French artist, Penelope-Anne Altmann, creates an illustration from a photograph of the dress. If you would prefer something even more personal, albeit pricier, you should check out All About the Dress, where Jennifer Angilello will create a custom illustration of the bride in the gown.

Image: mydreamline.com

Illustrious Illustrator - David Downton

Today I wanted to feature my absolute favorite fashion illustrator, David Downton. He's a UK-based artist who works primarily with watercolor & gouache. I absolutely adore the fluidity of his work and his use of lines and color. His work has been featured in top fashion magazines such as Bazaar and he also created Pourquoi Pas?, the only international periodical dedicated entirely to fashion illustration. It's an absolutely amazing publication and I just have to get my hands on a copy the second issue. It's been on my to do list for a few months now and they only produce a limited run so I hope I'm not too late!