MY MODEL BRIDE'S WEDDING: NATALIE AND DAVE TIE THE KNOT

Wedding Day Photography: Len Cook

Wedding Portraits: Elevenorchids

Make-up and Hair: Cristal Saville

Dress(es): Alfred Angelo

Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

Groom's Tux-Magnoli Clothiers New Zealand

Flower Girl Outfits - Dresses, shoes and wreaths from Nordstrom, Us Angels collection

Venue - Wildwood Acres Resort, Lafayette CA

Jelly and toast

Above: The rehearsal and Natalie in her rehearsal dress .

elevenorchids

Natalie is one of my favorite models and a dear friend who recently tied the knot in Lafayette, California. Natalie and Dave have that special chemistry. Whenever he'd accompany her on photo shoots I'd pick up on that real love and devotion thing going on between them that goes beyond any words. Having access to some of the best talent in the bridal/fashion industry, they decided to have a couple of photographers: one for the wedding day shoot and another for their wedding portraits. Natalie already had her dress when I met her. However, she decided to become a three-dress bride with one for the rehearsal, a big day dress and another change for the reception. I had the honor of designing her rehearsal dress which looked like something out of the corps de ballet of Giselle (pictured above). I'm happy to report the dress--which is actually a tank top and 27 yard tulle skirt combo-- has gotten some good mileage as she's used it in many a photo shoot since . . .

Here it is, the 'First Look'. Dave actually helped Natalie choose her wedding dress, and together they modeled and custom designed his tux after Gene Kelly's in, Singin' in the Rain. They were both involved in every detail of the wedding planning.

In Natalie's own words, "I was so hungry! Dave laughed and said he was too, he hadn't eaten all morning! Then I remembered my grilled cheese, and the two of us attacked the food, chowimg down in our formal wear. It was so good! Doesn't sharing make everything better? :)

Dave and Natalie's nieces Sophia and Mackenzie

Many guests started crying (or tearing up) when Rainbow Connection played during the processional, even the father of the groom!
Instead of a fifth bridesmaid they included Alannah, a niece of Dave's, as a junior bridesmaid, and she wore pink instead of chocolate brown.

Currently studying theatre in New York, Roxanne sang a song in place of a reading during the ceremony-- It Only Takes a Moment (originally from Hello, Dolly, but captured both Dave and Natalie's heart in Wall-E). She was accompanied by Victor, one of Dave's best friends (they used to be in a band together) on the acoustic guitar.

How's this for a wedding fiasco? Two of Natalie's bridesmaids cancelled a week before the wedding! Isn't that like every brides nightmare? "But not to worry" says Natalie, "My talented hair stylist/makeup artist Christal (top left) came to my rescue, found a dress, and stood up with us during the ceremony. "

Neither Dave or Natalie are fond of icing so they opted for a fresh fruit tart and a selection of gourmet cookies from Whole Foods for the wedding dessert!

Natalie and her grandfather

Dave's step-mom Sue made Natalie a beautiful pale pink/champagne bracelet to match the embroidery on her dress. She graciously made the bridesmaid bracelets as well. Such talent. Such a wedding.

And a bit of afterword here. Natalie and Dave have moved on from the Bay Area to Phoenix, Arizona. I do hope they decide to come back again someday because I truly miss them . . .

UPCYCLED

Transcendant Bird

Yes this dress is both new and used. Made from an existing linen beach dress, the designer added numerous yards of tulle gathered into layers with added streamers. Check out the vintage doilies all over the bodice and skirt. This is one off-the-charts example of upcycling, a trend and practice some ethical designers are devoting their collections to exclusively.
Upcycling is a trendy term for reusing garments or fabrics that already exist and spinning them up into something new and hopefully as original as the gown above. Last season a client brought in an exquisite antique tablecloth and asked me to fashion her wedding gown out of it. I was awestruck by the cloth. It was an allover and rare Cluny Lace. Ten years ago this would have been considered by most as ‘chintzing it’ on your wedding day whereas these days it is not only applauded but even considered a sentimental gesture—in my client’s case—the tablecloth was lovingly left to her by her great-grandmother.

Here are a couple of last year's adventures in upcycling by Yours Truly. Both were cut off a generous piece of Swiss cotton eyelet I've had for years. The gown above was dyed in tea and the one below I kept its original off white. Both have belts made out of eyelet trim--also upcycled.

Images courtesy Smoot Photo

SPRING'S EVE: CELEBRATING BOHO

As part of the 'Every Which Way Romantic Series' featured each week as Spring approaches, we'll be looking at all the different kinds of romantic chic. This week we're celebrating Boho. Defined, Boho is a fashion look borrowing from the peasant, early bohemian and hippie looks of the sixties. Boho can be earthy and ethereal all at once, with gowns sporting diaphanous fabrics topped off with head wreaths made out of fresh florals and greenery like ivy. So what does Boho have in common with bridal? It is an over-the-top romantic look and if weddings are anything they are just that. If you're into celebrating with a lot of green--both real and the eco-conscious kind, really think about this look if you haven't already incorporated some part of it into your wedding style. For me personally boho would be a natural despite my vintage leaning when it comes to design. . . Let's just say my mind is still open and as curious as a woman/child's.

Getting the Look

Wreath-Wearing a head wreath is one earthy way of going boho. A wreath circles the head and is interwoven with flowers, foliage and in some cases, ribbons. Florists can put these together either with fresh, artificial or dried flowers. Some variations would be those made exclusively of English Ivy or dried roses and baby’s breath.
The Empire or Diaphanous dress.-Find a dress made of chiffon or any flowing fabric. The tulle ballgown dappled with roses is another example of getting a combo of ethereal and earthy chic all at once. . . .

Try long, flowing hair, incorporating little girls in your wedding party wearing head wreaths, or angel wings, dresses made out of delicate laces, anything echoing the romantic periods such as Edwardian or even the right Art Deco as long as it is feminine . . .

THE WEDDING DRESS

Credits: A Bryan Photo, Images by Berit, James Christiansen, http://, Kendall Brown

This medley of gorgeous images shows us how important those small and painstaking details are to a gown: exquisite lace, a simple row of white satin buttons down the back, a metallic trim or simple bow can be just the touch or element needed to pull the overall design together. All these gowns have top notch craftsmanship and have been fitted so the bride wears it like a second skin . . .

ROYAL BRIDES AND THEIR GOWNS: Fabiola of Aragon

Today we're introducing something new to ring in 2010 called, 'Royal Brides and Their Wedding Gowns'. I'm so excited about this feature. If there's one thing my readers love it's grand weddings with all the hoopla and trimmings. The idea came about once I realized posts about the big time royals like Queen Elizabeth, Diana and Grace Kelly were your favorites. But what about those royals not so in the spotlight who had gorgeous gowns and designers? Researching them, I realized royal brides through the 20th-21st centuries have had some of the most traditional looks and simplest gowns in the finest of fibers that you shouldn't be missing out on. First in the series is the gown of Fabiola of Aragon by Balenciaga . . .

source

Fabiola of Aragon was born in the palace of the de Mora y Aragon family. Upon finishing her training as a nurse, Doña Fabiola began work in a hospital in Madrid. Both the Mora y Aragóns and the Belgian Royal Family were connected and this triggered the meet up between King Baudouin. the bachelor King of the Belgians and Fabiola.
The wedding took place on the cold winter morning of December 15, 1960. The civil wedding was performed in the Throne Room at the Royal Palace in Brussels, and the church wedding in the St Michel & St Gudule Cathedral

source
This gown is an absolute masterpiece created by Spanish design legend Cristobal Balenciaga. Peau with a mink collar and twenty foot train, it suited this winter bride well. Balenciaga was one of a handful of couturiers who could actually design, cut, and sew his own designs. A designer's designer, his minimalist creations that were so well crafted they resembled sculptures, were considered the optimal of haute couture circa 1950s and 1960s.
Balenciaga would have stayed in Madrid designing for the Spanish aristocracy but the Spanish Civil War forced him to Paris where post war he did some of his most innovative work (see what hanging with a bunch of Paris designers can inspire?)

source

source

STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: ARISA FUKUMOTO

"My concept of fashion is, "Fashion is Fantasy" and many of my creations are based on Wonderland, which is a place between a dream and reality. My design style is Quirky Femininity. It is chic, elegant, feminine with a bit of darkness."

--Arisa Fukumoto--

It's always a beautiful thing to see the the finely-tuned talents of someone like this young artist new to the design scene. London as well as Toyko based, her brand proffers inspirations of ballet, ethnic and dream fantasy dressing . . .

Real Wedding: Tim & Camille