a wedding gift

Isn't this sweet? From Hoopsy Daisies on Etsy

Wedding read

Hope you'll read this beautiful story over in the NY Times Vows section... but have a tissue handy.

Via The Hairpin

bridal makeup

Nusja Jone-Our Bride from Kosovo 2.0 on Vimeo.

This gorgeous video by Yll Citaku features a bride from the Trebesh community in Kosovo getting ready for her big day - which features face paint and decorations. This article in Imprint explains the colorful tradition of transforming a bride into a "living doll," with heavy traditional costume and detailed makeup. The result is pretty stunning.

Hi-Fi Weddings

I recently stumbled on what has to be the coolest wedding blog yet. At Hi-Fi Weddings, blogger Ashley profiles awesome off-beat weddings with serious playlists. I remember struggling so much with every song, from rehearsal dinner to reception and spending hours digging through our iTunes library to still end up not totally in love with the end result.  Ashley has you covered with a massive index of suggestions and plenty of fantastic wedding pics to go with.

Brides-to-be - this would be a first stop for me. Here are some great pics - and a sample playlist from this gem of a blog.

From Lauren and Matt's incredible wedding

Pre Ceremony
Avett Brothers: The Weight of Lies, The Ballad of Love and Hate, Go to Sleep, The Perfect Space, Backwards with Time, Die Die Die
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Shuffle your Feet
Brett Dennen: Ain’t No Easy Way
David Dondero: South of the South
Kings of Leon: Back Down South
Old Crown Medicine Show: Tell It To Me, Wagon Wheel, Hard to Love
Iron and Wine: Such Great Heights
Dolly Parton: Jolene

Cocktail Hour
Andrew Bird: Tables and Chairs
Band of Horses: No One is Going to Love You More
Bruce Springstein: Radio Nowhere
Cold War Kids: Hang Me Up to Dry
Coldplay: The Scientist
Copeland: Thanks to You
Counting Crows: Catapult
Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody, That’s Amore
Death Cab: Soul Meets Body, Marching Bands of Manhattan
Eels: Novocaine for the Soul
Frank Sinatra: Come Fly with Me
Jack’s Mannequin: Dark Blue
Kings of Leon: The Bucket
Lucero: All Sewn Up, Drink Till We’re Gone, Chain Link Fence
Manchester Orchestra: Shake it Out, I’ve Got Friends, Everything to Nothing
The Promise Ring: The Deep South, Best Looking Boys
Queen: Radio Ga Ga
Rilo Kiley: Bulletproof
Smashing Pumpkins: 1979
TV on the Radio: Staring at the Sun
Vampire Weekend: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance
Cold War Kids: Hospital Beds
Death Cab: Crooked Teeth

Specialty Songs
Wedding Party Announced to: Ratatat
Groom and Bride Announced to: Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire
Matt and Lauren’s First Dance: Band of Horses – Marry Song
Matt and Mom First Dance: Cat Stevens – Wild World
Lauren and Dad: Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight AND The Jungle Book – Be Like You

Reception
Prince: 1999
Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself
The Beach Boys: I Get Around
Franz Ferdinand: Take Me Out
Gnarls Barkley: Crazy
Kenny Loggins: Foot Loose
Jay-Z: Change Clothes
Kanye West: Touch the Sky
The Cure: Just Like Heaven
Kings of Leon: Taper Jean Girl, King of the Rodeo
Madonna: Into the Groove
Michael Jackson: Beat It, Billie Jean
M.I.A.: Paper Planes
LMFAO: Shots
The Knife: Heartbeats
Queen: Under Pressure
Neil Diamond: Cherry, Cherry
The Killers: Mr. Brightside
T.I.: Live Your Life
MC Hammer: You Can’t Touch This
U2: Sweetest Thing
Lucero: Sweet Little Thing, Drink Til We’re Gone
Enter Shikari: Juggernauts, Solidarity
Tone Loc: Wild Thing
Ratatat: Crips, Seventeen Years
Phil Collins: Sussudio
Van Morrison: Brown Eyed Girl
The Murder City Devils: Boom Swagger Boom
Phoenix: 1901

All photos from Hi Fi Weddings

bridal conundrum

From BHLDN's Vintage Wedding Gallery

A friend came to me with a quandry for one of her friends - this friend-of-a-friend, let's call her 'Vera,' is getting ready for her wedding and on the dress hunt. Vera's nuptials are set for a yacht club (classy) and she's looking for something simple to wear when she ties the knot, maybe not even a 'wedding dress' by name. Vera's a normal gal in the size 12 range, struggling with the 'one-size-fits-all' or rather, 'one-size-fits-small' options she's encountered. She'd also like to keep the gown in the $500 range and isn't wedded to white. 

Here are a few ideas I've come across - but I'm asking you, my stylish pals, to help a lady out with your suggestions as well!

First: the department stores - off-the-rack prices, plus a wide-range of sizes make these options easy for Vera to peruse in her area. 

A sheer, tank neckline breaks up wider shoulders, a fitted bodice offers plenty of control and a slightly flaired skirt balances top and bottom. BCBG Satin Stripe A-Line Gown - Available at Nordstroms

The same benefits of a tank neckline are evident here, an elongating v-neck and flattering draping make this grecian silhouette popular for larger sizes. Suzi Chin Goddess Dress - Also at Nordstroms

Another Grecian-inspired silhouette - Aidan Mattox Beaded Empire Silk Dress - From Saks

And another - also Aidan Mattox- from Bloomingdales

A silvery Kay Unger dress from Neimans provides more structure in a heavier jacquard.

A playful ruffle adds drama and provides tummy camouflage in this Marchesa One-Shoulder Ruffled Silk Crepe Gown - From Saks

I love the deco feel of this Sue Wong gown - From Bloomingdales

And a beautifully draped simple sheath from Ann Taylor 

Also worth looking at are smaller - alternative bridal designers that may specialize in bridesmaids, but offer an assortment of simple bridal options as well. 

This Jenny Yoo Sheath offers plenty of control through well-placed princess seams and the sash belt. It's also available on the bridesmaid side of her site in dozens of brilliant hues including some very punchy pinks.

Also from Jenny Yoo  this gown with an empire-waist, nicely-fitted bodice and dozens of color options including a gorgeous off-white make this bridesmaid dress a definite option for a bride looking for something different.

This incredibly simple sheath from the aptly named Simple Silhouettes has a 60's feel that would pair so nicely with a birdcage veil.

Yet another Grecian-style gown - this one from Joanna Auguste

Big time bridal houses also have plenty of options - although many cross over the princess line, not in keeping with Vera's wish for simple and classic. 

This empire-waisted chiffon dress from David's Bridal still fits the bill and feels very old hollywood with the draped halter neckline. 

And if our friend-of-a-friend, Vera happens to stumble on a big pile of cash, I don't think there is anyone who dresses brides with curves better than Matthew Christopher with his incredible vintage Hollywood sensibilities. 

What do you think Vera should wear? Have you come across anything in your own searching my bride-to-be pals??

Anthropologie does weddings

The anticipation of Anthropologie's new bridal boutique, BHLDN (beholden) has been building for weeks, and yesterday in honor of the DAY of LOVE! they launched. The blogosphere is swooning. So am I - there are definitely more than a few items that I would have loved to pick up for my nuptials. For those brides-to-be, there are goodies galore, even for the non-matrimonial inclined, there are fantastic frocks for parties (and guesting at other people's weddings), sweet lingerie, simple jewelry and a few fabulous pairs of heels.

Here are a few of my favorites from the bunch - but it's worth a little lunch hour exploring.

love poster

From Martha Stewart Weddings

I adore this idea from Martha Stewart Weddings to have friends and family sign a pretty print instead of a guest book. I wish we had seen this before traveling down the path of a dozen different mini-books that received minimal loving throughout the night (not that we don't treasure what was written there).

This reminds me of some of the gorgeous contemporary ketubahs, I have seen. I loved the idea of a ketubah - a Jewish prenuptial agreement hung in the home as a sort of daily reminder of their vows. In the final moments before our wedding, I looked for some sort of non-denominational equivalent and came up short.

For my nearly-wed friends - this is something I would love to have. Martha has a downloadable version available, but artistic brides could easily come up with their own artwork - and the whole thing is shown here in an Ikea frame.

Simple - perfect.

Wedding: Reception

After all of the emotion of the ceremony it was incredible to depart the church and head to the biggest party of our lives. While we cruised through the alley ways and parking garages of LoDo to get shots of the wedding party, the rest of our guests enjoyed cocktails and snacks at Mile High Station.

We hit the dance floor immediately on arrival for our first dance to Ben Folds 'The Luckiest' performed and played by our incredibly talented groomsman, Jordan.  The dance not nearly as impressive as it appears in this photo - contained some very special not-so-serious moves.

After some dancing we sat down along with 175 of our closest friends for a family-style dinner of meat and potatoes provided by Catering by Design.

The food was delicious, simple and unfussy. As soon as people started to pass the platters we knew we had made the right decision going for a communal meal.

During dinner we were treated to toasts from loved family and friends from throughout the pages of our lives, some we'd known forever, others, just a few years. Some old, one very young - each gave us an incredible gift by standing up and sharing their love on a day that for us, was all about that love.

After dinner our incredible 8-piece Motown band, 8trac M.E. accompanied our father/daughter, mother/son twirl around the dance floor with La Vie en Rose.... and then it was time to really dance.

8Trac M.E. was one of the very best wedding decisions we made, and a great story. We spotted them about six months out for the wedding, devoured every sample track on their site and decided that they might be the very best wedding band ever. A quick inquiry was met with the sad reality that vocalist and band leader, Chantel, was re-locating to NY - and as a result 8Trac would not be playing the Denver wedding circuit in the foreseeable future.

Fast forward a few more months and a lot more looking, including heavy consideration of a Beatles cover band. We couldn't take it, nobody could compare and we knew it. When it comes to live music, half as good for half the money isn't really a deal we could settle for. So we tried again. Confessed our love to Chantel, and guess what? She said yes! A plane ticket to Denver and the band was back together, rocking our socks off all night at the reception.

We didn't spend the whole night on the dance floor - we had a few other things to attend to, like signing our marriage license (thanks witnesses) and cutting our delicious four-tiered buttercream confection from Das Meyer Pastry Chalet. Guests also spent a bit of time in the photo booth and rocking out upstairs in the Rockband room.

I tossed the bouquet to an enthusiastic bunch of bridesmaids and was delighted when my sister made the catch.  D. sent the garter flying to a less enthusiastic bunch of bachelors. Then it was back to dancing.

As clichéd as it may be - Shout was the hit of the night. Jordan treated us to a little bit of Prince and then we closed out the night with a personal favorite: Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

And how could the evening have gotten any better? Sparklers, that's how.