Manolo for the Brides

If only autumn and winter weren’t so dang long. Maybe you’re engaged however and deeply immersed in planning a spring or summertime wedding. That’s got to warm you up a little, right? Maybe you’re leaning toward a springtime wedding in your local botanical garden. Or perhaps you’ve got a destination or beach wedding in mind and are contemplating warm winds, salty sea air, and blue ocean waters.

Well, lucky you. That means you get to bypass all of the heavy formal gowns and peruse the a lighter, more feminine wedding dresses. Maybe even something in tea length, perhaps? Well, then, how does a retro taffeta sleeveless tea length dress with a boat neckline and gathered waist sound? Because it sounds fabulous to me. Observe:

What’s not to like? Thanks to Forever Bridals, I’ll be keeping warm thoughts in my head even though my hands and feet and freezing today.

I know I spaced and never dished on the wedding I attended in September. So look upon this as my attempt to make up for that. Yes, I attended a wedding this weekend. Two of my best friends, Chris and Jenny, tied the old knot in scenic Hamilton Square, New Jersey. It was a good shindig, particularly because, unlike many weddings, it reflected the tastes of the bride and groom. Plus, they did an absolutely fabulous job with DIY details like tulle-wrapped tea lights, pretty centerpieces, and pre-wedding gift bags (left for us at the hotel) featuring, among other things, cute bride and groom rubber duckies.

Furthermore, Jenny’s mock two-piece dress was beautiful and her choice of matching bolero jackets for bridesmaids (decked out in red strapless dresses, rawr) meant there were no frostbite causalities. And Chris made their wedding guestbook from scratch out of his family’s tartan. Super rad!

Highlights: In a word? FOOD. I love to eat and I love options. Their choosing brunch meant that guests could choose between breakfast foods like crispy French toast and lunch foods like marinated portobello mushrooms. Or they could have both, like I did. Though Chris and Jenny did cut a cake (their caterer practically forced them to have one), their desert buffet was defined by pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, and coconut cream PIE. Even though Jenny’s idea of using an elegant cake or dessert stand to display them didn’t work out, the pies still rocked. I probably gained ten pounds on Saturday.

Lowlights: During the latter half of the reception, the DJ, who was given a list of specific songs he was not to play, played almost every song on the “do not play list.” Think Paradise By the Dashboard Light, a song that does not belong at any wedding ever, and the Electric Slide. A word to the wise: Be sure you can trust your DJ not to futz with your music choices! Grill them beforehand using this handy DJ guide from Chicago Wedding Services.

Weirdlights: Sure, this isn’t a word, but what better way to describe actor Michael C. Maronna (of The Adventures of Pete& Pete fame) making naughty sausage sculptures for us?

Congrats, Chris and Jenny! You’re the best!

The mother of the bride has some very important tasks to take care of in the days and weeks and months leading up to her baby girl’s wedding. She needs to announce said nuptials with pride to anyone within earshot. She needs to carry around a picture of her daughter’s fiance so she can show strangers on the street an image of her future son-in-law. She needs to fret about what she will wear. And she needs to accept the bride’s tearful phone calls with poise.

So why not get mom a gift or two that lets her show off her temporary MOB status?

A mug with a message will let mom’s colleagues know she’s not losing a daughter, but rather gaining a son-in-law.

Or inspire mom to show off her mother of the bride pride at yoga, the mall, the beach, or anywhere else with this telling t-shirt.

Then, after your mom has made coffee (for her new mug, natch) and donned her MOB duds, sit down together and read Mother of the Bride: The Dream, the Reality, the Search for a Perfect Dress by Ilene Beckerman. I guarantee you’ll both enjoy a good laugh and a good cry.

It’s a great way to connect with mom without all the hassle and stress of tag-team dress shopping!

I like rings. I like ‘em so much that when the phone says, “RING RING!” I answer by saying, “Yes, please.” Of course, not just any ring will do. Right now I’m digging on Krikawa Jewelry Designs. Run by husband and wife team, John and Lisa Krikaw, KJD will knock your socks off. They carry a sweet selection of plain and diamond wedding bands, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Seriously. Have a look:

According to the site, this “mokume band arches above the ring shank to form an architectural window through the ring.” While the ‘window’ doesn’t really do it for me, I love the way the stone looks with the platinum Mokume Gane and the delicate detailing around the stone itself. All of their Mokume Gane stuff is excellent, by the way.

This modern puzzle ring is crafted with three diamonds in palladium and 18k yellow gold. Intended as a unique and unforgettable wedding band, there are both men’s and women’s sizes, with some differences in style. The ring shown is for all the ladies in the house.

Did I mention that the good folks at KJD will also create custom rings based on client specs? They will work with a stone you already have to create a beautiful design or work with you to draw up a design that suits you and your sweetie perfectly. This ring features a cognac diamond set in 18k yellow gold with six diamond accents. The most intriguing aspect of this ring (for me) is that the band was photo-etched with a pattern from medieval armor. Cool, no?

It’s that sort of attention to detail that really makes me salivate.

A throwaway garter is a must when you’ve got a garter this awesome! This is an example of one of the one-of-a-kind, handmade and hand dyed satin garters created by Gulden & Brown Vintage and sold on VintageGown.com. Crafted out of 1930’s style Boudoir Lingerie Satin, raspberry tint lace, and a hand painted Victorian Gothic winged heart, it’s a shame guests will only have a chance to see it once during the wedding reception.

Each garter featured on the site is dyed (sometimes twice or even thrice) using natural organic tints that create a vivid hue and soften the delicate lace. All of the embellishments are unique in origin and thus designs cannot be replicated exactly. If you’re looking for a truly special accent piece to wear on your big day, this may be it!