After "YES," Before "I DO" and Everything In Between

Part 4 of my series on how to translate your personal style into your wedding design and look is here!  We've already explored the Glam Tomboy , Business Beauty and  Bradshaw Belle .  Today we continue with the DIAMOND DIVA : The Diamond Diva is high-maintenance.  Some would consider her flashy and flamboyant, but it's mostly due to her ability to command a great deal of attention .  She seeks out only the very best and tends to follow celebrity trends.  Still, she likes to be exclusive and one-of-a-kind stays top of mind.  WOW factor is her middle name.  She makes no apologies for innate expensive taste. If you're a Diamond Diva , consider these inspirations for your wedding:   (photos courtesy of One and Only Paris Photography , Wedding Inspirasi and Karen Tran Floral Design ) Sometimes, it's all about location ... therefore, Destination Paris!  After all, what's better than the Eiffel Tower as a backd...

In parts 1 and 2 of my series on how to translate your personal style into your wedding design and look, we focused on the Glam Tomboy and the Business Beauty .  Today, part 3 continues with the BRADSHAW BELLE (affectionately named after the Sex & The City character "Carrie Bradshaw"): The Bradshaw Belle is stylish, creative, spontaneous and emotional.  Her closet's full of pieces that epitomize her personality.  She loves color, bold patterns and layering, which in most cases leads her to pairing unique combinations together.  There are times when she'd rather be simple, but there always has to be a twist.  She's a risk-taker above all else. If you're a Bradshaw Belle , consider these inspirations for your wedding:   (photos courtesy of Lisa Devlin Photography , Kristen Taylor Photography and Karen Tran Floral Design ) Infuse a Bohemian-chic vibe into your attire, it's trendy yet nostalgic at the same time.  Knowing yo...

Last week, we discussed the world of the energetic, boisterous, spitfire Glam Tomboy .  Today, part 2 of my series on how to translate your personal style into your wedding design and look continues with the BUSINESS BEAUTY : The Business Beauty is refined, cultured, loyal to a specific aesthetic and exudes swank.  Designer handbags, understated yet exquisite jewelry and blazers are staples in her wardrobe.  Yet, she also enjoys inserting menswear influences here and there.  It's never a problem for her to take an in-the-office look and turn it into high fashion.  For her it's always quality over quantity, but she still loves to make a statement. If you're a Business Beauty , consider these inspirations for your wedding:   (photos courtesy of KT Merry Photography and Nadia D. Photography ) Tradition is preferred in this case, but a little twist here and there is still acceptable.  Push stark white aside and lead with creamy ivor...

I've always believed your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as opposed to what trends, critics and magazines specifically call for.  In the grand scheme of things, there really are no wrong answers for brides-to-be.  Whatever you like is perfect!  So, I've been working on this four-part series on how to translate your personal style into your wedding design and look. The series will feature ladies who are not “real” brides, but have inspired me via a bold sense of style and each week I'll share my thoughts on the direction this type of woman should take in planning her wedding.   Sounds like fun, right? Without further adieu, let's get started with the GLAM TOMBOY : The Glam Tomboy is energetic, sometimes boisterous and can be a spitfire for sure.  Boyfriend jeans and studded jackets are staples in her wardrobe.  Yet, she's easy-breezy, chill and relaxed, able to go up against the best of 'em when it comes to glamming it up and showca...

When designing events, especially weddings, I go out of my way to incorporate memorability in even the smallest of details.  In my opinion, that's what will set your wedding apart from the others your guest have attended and even become accustom to.  And while I'm a huge fan of "WOW factor," I'm well aware not everyone has a "WOW budget" to match.  With that said, creatively infusing subtle touches that are in line with your ethetic go a long way.  Trust me, one or two of these little ideas can make a BIG impact. Here are a few ideas/trends I am crushing lately:   Napkin-Wrap Menu Cards - In my opinion, no wedding table is complete without menu cards - and these are such a unique way to showcase what each guest will be served.  These can be dressed up or down depending on the style of your event as well.  Plus, they save space!   Monogram Cupcake Display - This idea creates a wonderful opportunity to add pizzazz to your decor while also of...

Are you a sparkle-and-shine bride who loves lots of bling?  Are you a fan of old Hollywood glamour, channeling Audrey Hepburn or Dorothy Dandridge, who's in love with everything "antique-y?"  Are you an outside-the-box, new-age bride who is focused having a non-traditional wedding?  Or are you a little bit of ALL of the above.  Well, there is a ton of inspiration out there for whatever style wedding you're interested in having.  Check out a few of the ideas we've compiled via Pinterest : BRIDAL BLING   VINTAGE VOWS   MOD MARRIAGE - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

In wedding planning, selecting a theme can be quite involved and sometimes pretty cumbersome.  Just remember, you don't have to build an event around a "Vintage Chic" or "Romantic Candlelight" theme ... actually, color all by itself goes a long way. Now, I'm sure you've already thought of laying the foundation of your colored theme by means of the bridesmaid dresses, linens and flowers.  Just don't forget the bar.  YES, that's right, the traditionally color-free zone where over half of your guests will spend most of their time during your wedding reception.  Think: Decorative Drinkware!  Bring color to your signature drinks and even those commonplace glasses of Pinot Noir.  It's totally fine to include your color scheme at the bar and most reputable party rental companies offer a wide range of options. Check out some of our favs: Classy Twist The Marais collection features a single hand-blown frosted stripe twirled around the glass ...

Lots of brides and grooms decide to tie the knot around the Independence Day holiday.  Why?  There's always lots of celebrating already going on, the weather is usually beautiful AND you get to take advantage of free fireworks! If you're planning a wedding or party this upcoming July 4th weekend, consider infusing a little red-white-and-blue into your shindig.  And make sure Crate & Barrel is on your "must shop at" list.  They have a really fabulous selection of elegant and festive accessories. 4th of July Cupcake Papers Blue Gingham and Red Gingham and Blue and Red Striped Ramekins 4th of July Pinwheel Picks Red, White & Blue Nonpareils - - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

I mentioned a couple of months ago, when we debuted our Blue to the Bone inspiration board, that while I'm a LOVER of bold color (the bolder, the better), this wedding season I've favored more delicate palettes.  It's true.  As television personality Wendy Williams would say, "I've gone all soft and pink" ... or should we say peach !  Peach tends to get a bum rap, perhaps due to its popularity throughout the 70s and 80s.  But everyone knows even the strangest of trends return eventually.  Yet to ensure it's set apart from any pre-21st century wedding remnants, we've paired it with gray.  What'dya think? PEACHY KEEN Credits (top, left to right): Peach Wedding Gown - Vera Wang ; Miniature "Present" Cake - Beau-Coup ; Pearl Silver Necklace - Daria Imports ; Peach Candles; Peach, Gray Bouquet; Peach Chanel Shoes (photo courtesy of Elizabeth Messina Photography ); Peach and Gray Bridesmaid Dress - Jim Hjelm ; Handmade Wedding Invitation - Mo...

I truly LOVE the big, the bold and the bodacious when it comes to color. But this wedding season I've gravitated toward the meek, the mild and the muted ... hence my work on our Blue to the Bone inspiration board. When it comes to weddings, some believe it more difficult to select a striking bright palette, but truth be told it's the other way around. Most brides steer clear of anything too close to "white," as they feel this is their color and only their color. Albeit, brides shouldn't be afraid of a design that features feather-soft hues like "pale blue" and "bone" (two of the most delicate colors rarely utilized by brides and grooms). And here's why ... BLUE TO THE BONE Credits (top, left to right): Pale Blue Invitation - Southall Eden Paperie ; Vintage Table Number - Studio Stems ; Putty Radzimir Mini Dress - Lanvin PARIS ; Monogrammed Lollipop Favor - Beau-Coup ; Pale Blue Rolled Fondant Cake - Bach Bakery ; Silk Ring Pillow ...

If you've yet to select your wedding or event's color palette, be sure to give Preston Bailey's color picker a whirl.  Mr. Fabulous, himself, offers yet another wonderful tool to help you pull off your celebration-of-a-lifetime ... and it's actually quite cool. Just be careful, it's also a little addictive!   - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

I'm working with a Washington, D.C. couple planning an early-September wedding who've chosen to incorporate island flair and culture into the design of their event.  My staff and I have been having so much fun brainstorming and compiling ideas, thus this couple has become our Isle to Aisle bride and groom.  So far, we're having visions of bright pink, purple and orange hues ... steel drummers and African percussionists ... frozen specialty drinks & rum punch ... hanging paper lanterns ... crackling fire pits encircled by plush pillows ... walls drenched in color ... message-in-a-bottle escort cards ... hints of black for "POP."  Oh the possibilities! Here's my first inspiration board for this couple's nuptials. ISLE TO AISLE Credits (top, left to right): Mermaid Style Wedding Gown - Henry Roth ; Black-dress Bridesmaid holding bouquet (photo courtesy of TheKnot); Outdoor Courtyard Ceremony Set - Dolce Basking Ridge ; Multi-colored Paper Lan...

It's a new year, time for innovative ideas, time to leave a few things behind.  And in the case of weddings and events, this also rings true.  For example in 2010, trying too hard and missing the mark when producing green/eco-friendly events got a little "old" ... cupcakes-cupcakes-cupcakes and overly dramatic desert tables, oh my, they have truly run their course ... mermaid-style gowns, glamorous and sexy but hey la hey la - the ballgown's back ! So what are the bridal trends for 2011?   TheKnot.com released their predictions for the top 11 wedding trends for 2011 Tuesday!  Think you'll incorporate any of these fresh ideas into your wedding/event? 1. Prohibition-Era Elegance: So long, Mad Men—the most stylish new show is Boardwalk Empire and brides are noticing. From dusty nudes and lace dresses for the ladies to wing-tip shoes for the men, couples are falling in love with the dapper fashion of the 1920s. And it wouldn’t feel like Prohibition without alc...

Not only are many of the most popular hotels, resorts and restaurants now offering wedding packages, but Hong Kong has become the first place in the world to offer wedding packages at McDonald's!  My husband brought an interesting CNN International article to my attention today and I couldn't help but share. Hong Kong will be the first city in the world to roll out McDonald’s nuptial packages for couples starting January 1 next year. The package has all the details to attract a wedding banquet cynic or a Golden Arches obsessive: a baked apple pie wedding cake, dress made out of party balloons, kiddie party favors for guests, and of course, catering by McDonald’s. Alcohol is banned to make sure there won’t be drunk party guests acting inappropriately at the family venue, so newly weds will have to toast their union with soft drinks instead. The cost will be a few thousand Hong Kong dollars, depending on what guests order on the spot. It’s unlikely that the couple will b...

... "tones" meaning the PANTONE Spring 2011 directional colors. Twice a year, Pantone (the global authority on color) announces the season's most important and most prominent hues and Spring 2011 has an abundance for brides planning their weddings to pull from. There's such a balanced a mix of cool and warm colors, thus there is something for everyone! And don't forget about Dessy's PANTONE WEDDING ™ color guide, the ultimate color reference tool for brides and wedding planners which makes it easier to achieve a perfectly color-coordinated wedding.  Perhaps they'll be updating their tool with the new colors for Spring 2011 soon. Stay tuned! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

I'm working with a couple, planning a late-April wedding, who aren't yet sure what their color scheme will be. I jumped at the chance to suggest we design their event around hues of purple, navy and pink.  I call this "Classic Love" and I'm very excited about this design. I hope they're just as excited. Here's my first inspiration board for this couple's nuptials. CLASSIC LOVE Credits (top, left to right): Magenta Vintage Floral Birdcage Veil/Headpiece - Etsy ; 5-Tier Navy & Pink Cake - The Sugar Suite ; Pearl Adorned Flowergirl (photo courtesy of Stephanie Williams Photography ); Personalized Glass Paperweight Favor - Red Stamp ; Orchid Boutonniere (photo courtesy of The Knot ); Lavender Truffle Favor - Boca Bons ; Navy Belted Menu Cards/Papers - Socially Write ; Navy & Pink Monogrammed Invitation - Etsy ; 3 Pink Shoes (photo courtesy of Stephanie Williams Photography ) - - - - - - - - - - By Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Dire...

I'm working with a couple planning a late-October wedding who've chosen to design their event based upon the theme, " Vintage Romance ." Now, any busy wedding planner will tell you...nowadays anything "vintage" is all the rage with brides-to-be. But exactly what does it mean? The truth is, it means lots of things. Just take a look at what dictionary.com says: vin⋅tage [vin-tij] –noun 1. the wine from a particular harvest or crop. 2. the annual produce of the grape harvest, esp. with reference to the wine obtained. 3. an exceptionally fine wine from the crop of a good year. 4. the time of gathering grapes, or of winemaking. 5. the act or process of producing wine; winemaking. 6. the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use: a hat of last year's vintage. –adjective 7. of or pertaining to wines or winemaking. 8. being of a specified vintage: Vintage wines are usually more expensive than nonvintage wines. 9. repres...

My friends over at WeddingChannel.com informed me last night that they just launched brand-new wedding websites, including exclusive designs from Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Lela Rose and Oscar de la Renta (my personal favorite).  Brides already love to personalize their wedding, and this is another way a Vera- or Monique-clad bride can actually have a wedding website that ties in with her wedding gown designer.  What fun! The new wedding websites also feature hundreds of other personalization options including interactive wedding maps that help guests locate all the wedding events via Google maps.  Go on over and choose your couture design today. - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

You're invited to browse our latest inspiration board, focusing on a color without hue ... white. Not many brides are brave or gutsy enough to make white their wedding's entire theme, for fear they themselves will be drowned out . Yet, this has to be one of the classiest and loveliest of color-themes. Perfect in the winter. A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR   Credits (top, left to right): Floral Hair Adornment (photo courtesy of Brides.com); Historic Czech Republic Venue - Grandhotel Pupp ; Four-tiered Sparkling Snowflake Cake - Amy Atlas Events ; Square Monogrammed Ceremony Programs (photo courtesy of TheKnot.com); Couture Flowerbaby Gown - Etsy.com ; Pearl Bouquet Ring Pillow - Perfect Details ; Emerald-cut CZ Ring - Fantasy Jewelry Box ; Elephant Walk Earrings by Paris - Perfect Details ; White & Crystal Floral Arrangements (photo courtesy of Forever Photography ); Starin Embellished Clutch by Malene Birger - mywadrobe.com - - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder ...

Your After "Yes," Before "I Do" & Everything In Between archive reminder has arrived! Take a look back at what we were discussing around this time, one year ago. * License to be Married (how to apply for a marriage license in New Jersey) * Shirley & James: Fairy Tale Flutter (a look back at one of our June 2008 weddings) * FlAVOR of the Month: September 2008 (2 awesome favor ideas) - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY