I am working on a presentation for Love Mexico Weddings that I’m doing tomorrow and it’s, oddly, gotten me thinking a lot about LACE. It’s so evocative and can be girly or vintage, sweet or sexy… And, naturally, romantic. So, it’s no wonder that it’s such a staple in weddings.  I wanted to showcase some more INTERESTING examples of lovely lace worked into wedding days.

I just HEART this little birdcage veil by James Coviello (get it, I heart it). And it’s only $135 at BHLDN. It’s tongue in cheek and a little Sassy!

And speaking of Sassy! I think people think lace gowns and think a more chaste, Royal look, but this little shortie from Amsale is bringing long legged realness to any wedding! I just love it. (I also have been watching Drag Race in Marathon, so please don’t mind my occasional lapses into drag talk). Via One Wed.

This Stationery set works lace in so beautifully, as a wrapping of sorts.  A great detail that elevates the entire suite. (From Oh So Beautiful Paper)

You can work lace into your flowers if you just want a ‘lil bit of lace.  Think of wrapping it around your bouquet as seen below (via Wedding Bee) OR, in one of my favorite wedding trends, consider wrapping the base of your floral arrangement in lace. It’s a fabulous way to mask floral oasis and add a texture to your table.(via Once Wed)

I just LOVE lace on a cake!  Isn’t this stunning? The Grey lace makes it sooo so chic! (via Wedding Paper Divas Blog)

Finally, if you REALLY love something TOTALLY out of the box, check out this amazing ceremony backdrop of this Tree COMPLETELY wrapped in lace. I love it!  (Photos by Jose Villa via Once Wed )

It reminds me of a less disturbing version of Lady Gaga wrapping her whole face in lace… I don’t know why, it just does. Anyway here’s to getting creative with Lace!

And as for me, back to my presentation!  I’m such a PROCRASTINATOR!

Last week, I did a post about how to achieve that effortless “not so matchy, matchy” look with your bridesmaids… But I realized that we maybe need a little bit more assistance in how to have your groomsmen look great and not like a bunch of guys heading to prom.  I’ve found that sometimes the snag with groomsmen is that grooms feel less comfortable asking their friends to spend some money on attire specifically for their wedding, whereas it’s expected by Bridesmaids to shell out on an event specific ensemble.  So, often, the answer is to simply default to a rented tux. But, if a groom can wrap his head around asking his groomsmen to participate in a “look”, the results can be quite dapper and unlike most bridesmaids’ dresses, the groomsmen CAN actually wear that suit/ vest/ tie, etc. again.

For weddings that are a little less formal, I love the idea of putting your groomsmen in suit vests without jackets.  It’s stylish and more polished than forgoing just shirt and slacks. (Via Silverthorne Pavillion):

In the summertime or on the beach, I think a Khaki suit can look so handsome. Here, they paired fabulous suits with colorful ties for a festive and fun look. (via Silver Thorne Pavillion)

Obviously, THE GROOM should be the most stylish man in the wedding party, but remember, his look can inspire the groomsmen, but not necessarily be replicated EXACTLY.  I thought this fabulous groom looked amazing in his bespoke suit, but his wedding party looked no less dapper in these great 3 piece grey suits that they will wear again and again. (via Abella Photography)

Sometimes, it’s great to let your groomsmen shine with their own personal looks- a great solution for a more CASUAL wedding. I loved this mismatched wedding party on Green Wedding Shoes and I got the sense that each of these men carried their own “everyday” style into their wedding look.

Of course, the easiest way to keep everyone “uniformed” but not without personality is to play with the best men’s accessory of all: the tie.  I LOVE this coordinated, but mis-matched tie look! (Via Brides.com)

Curious: What are your groomsmen wearing?

The groom’s wedding band. Typically not the most exciting part of the planning process. I mean, what do you do?  Engrave your initials?  A phrase?  Mayra had a song lyric engraved in her husband’s band. But, beyond that, a gold band is a gold band, right?  NOT ANYMORE!

One of my clients showed me this site as a thought about her soon to be husband’s wedding band and I thought it was at once beautiful and clever!  The Cameo Ring by Rux.  It turns your profile into jewelry that will last a lifetime.  They will turn your profiles into art and you will always be able to look down and “see” the face of your significant other: symbolic and pretty all at once.  And in 18K gold at prices that start around $1700, a worthwhile investment.

They also make bangles and baby rattles (so cool!) in a variety of colors!  So cute and meaningful.

I was saddened this week by the passing of Maurice Sendak, the amazing illustrator and author of “Where the Wild Things Are”. Growing up, it was one of my two favorite books, and I would read it over and over and over again. The story was fantastic, but the illustrations were the real magic.. leaving indelible impressions on my very young brain.  Illustration, done well, can convey whimsey and emotion…and not surprisingly has been embraced in the wedding world.  Below, a few of my favorite illustrated pieces of wedding stationery that I’ve seen on the net.

I LOVED these invites from Essie Letterpress! They reminded me of a Victorian era pharmacy advert. Probably the most sophisticated marriage of illustration on a wedding invitation I’ve seen. (via Oh So Beautiful Paper.)

These stunning programs featured illustrations of all of the wedding party… making it extra easy to ID key players and adding a bit of humor.(Via Martha Stewart Weddings)

I Love, Love, LOVE this next invitation because it’s romantic, witty and whimsical all at the same time! I can’t figure out WHO designed it, but I got it via Weddings Fresh

I have to be honest, not a lot of my clients actually have bridesmaids anymore.  It’s not a judgement, but I think that over the years, for gals who have BEEN bridesmaids, the idea of asking their friends to spend a small fortune on a bridesmaids dress doesn’t always seem like an honor.. particularly when a lot of the dresses that are marketed as “bridesmaids gowns” are just as expensive as something you might find on Floor 5 at Bergdorf’s , but without any of the fashionable flash.    And, who wants their bestest friends to look actually LESS fashionable than some of the guests?

I know, there is someone right now from Dessy Group or some other bridesmaids gown manufacturer who is reading this post and throwing a metaphorical dart at my photo, but for $200 or $300 or $350, a gal could get a pretty fabulous dress off the rack.   And, before that marketing person from a bridesmaids’ dress gets too upset, I want to say two things: 1) You have gotten MUCH better at making MUCH nicer bridesmaids gowns and 2) There will always be a need for fabulous bridesmaids dresses, and there will always be bridesmaids.

If you look on the blog-o-sphere right now though, there is a call, a DEMAND practically, for more fashion forward bridesmaid dress solutions.  So, let’s say you are a bride right now planning a wedding, and you see a lot of these great posts on blogs about Neon trends for bridesmaids or color blocking for bridesmaids… how can you actually pull that look off for your coterie of lady friends?  Here are some quick tips for creating a stylish, but COHESIVE look for your bridesmaids.

1. For the most “Fashion Forward”, personally flattering frocks, Actually DO shop off the rack, (and “employ” a personal shopper).  The Pluses:  Most department stores (Saks, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Lord and Taylor) offer personal shopping services at absolutely NO charge, offering you to find your ‘maids current looks that they surely will wear again.  The Downside?  This look is NOT for the bride who wants everyone to look UNIFORMED…nor for the bride who wants bridesmaids gowns to be “squared away” 6-8 months in advance of the wedding. This is best achieved by shopping in season, or a season in advance of your wedding. If you think that will wreck your nerves, than I say let it go! (below, 4 dresses I found online at Bloomingdales that I think would work for a variety of gals’ personal figures and personal styles in these “hot” shades of blue. Imagine what a shopper who knows their stock can do? From Left to right: Your “sweet friend: Kay Unger, For your sexy friend with a “Joan” Physique: Carmen Marc Valvo,Classic Blue with embellished elegance from Lotusgrace, and a fun and fashionable number with black details from BCBG.)

2. Pick a Gown that’s SIMPLE and let them accessorize it with their own personal style! I love the idea of a simple silhouette made personalized to each made by her choice of accessories. This wedding party really got it right by picking a simple silk sheath as a backdrop for their fabulous statement necklaces. Imagine the same concept but with bold, fun shoes in your wedding accent color. Remember, NON-matching perfection has it’s own merits! (via United With Love)
3.  Come Up with a  Unifying Theme, with WIDE parameters, and be OK with Happy Accidents that will occur. You may or may not know, but I am a huge fan of The Voice. And even though I don’t really listen to Country, I am a fan of Miranda Lambert and her husband Blake Sheldon. (I was very excited that his contestant won last night!)  Anyway, Miranda was able to pull off a perfectly apropos look with two wide range directives : Pastels and Prints.  It worked perfectly for her country wedding.  You can think of something like “Jewel tones and Gold” or “Anything Yellow and Grey”.  (Via Green Wedding Shoes)

Happy Styling!  Remember: a happy bridesmaid is a comfortable bridesmaid who feels PRETTY!

So, its’ been well documented here how much we just LOVE Heather Waraksa and her work. But Heather is not just a photographer, she is a true artist, in the best sense of the word. She pushes herself, is creative in every aspect of her life, has an open and sensitive heart and very high standards. She’s an outstanding photographer. So, when she and Jonathan got engaged, after we asked what we could do to help, we of course asked “Who are you going to have shoot it?” Not surprisingly, she chose the incomparable Angelica Glass, just named to American Photo’s Top 10 Wedding Photographer’s of 2012. We are working with Angela on a destination wedding this summer and, when I saw Heather’s engagement shots, I just got so excited! They absolutely CAPTURE Heather and Jonathan’s personality and style AND they are totally outside the box, sexy and rock and roll. Some selects below, but Angelica Glass’ site has the full gallery here!

Have I ever told you that Mayra is really cheap?  Oh. My. Goodness. She practically squeaks!  And, while it’s good for business (“What’s wrong with the calculator we’ve got? “That’s a great idea, Xochitl, but you’re going over their budget, so… NO.”). It’s admirable and annoying all at the same time: admirable, because I am completely lured in my “luxury” anything, and her ability to see if something is “worth it” or not, is fantastic.  Annoying, because when planning her wedding she gave me Phaedra Parks Side Eye over every little freakin’ thing I wanted to “add on” to the wedding.

And, actually, her wedding was an enlightening process for me because, I had almost forgotten how, no matter much you prep and plan, the last few weeks before the Big Day you remember about a hundred tiny details that all can add up to another few hundred or even thousands of dollars.  Special Earrings, the BAG you are going to carry, flutes you want to toast with, how you will display your cake.  So, I often have recommended on this blog $800 earrings or (just last week) a $4,000 clutch bag….but as Mayra said to me during her wedding planning “You know what Xochitl, I’m tired of spending money and I frankly don’t care if I have a photo of Christian Laboutins, so please shut it.”

All of this is to say that when I started getting little email blasts from Edisen, and I would notice these fabulous accessories, shoes, hair pieces and delightful entertaining items, I made a mental note to check it out.  Then, the other day, I saw this amazing little pin of a hot hair balloon, clicked to open the site and was STUNNED at the prices!  Not just for the little adorable pin, but of nearly everything on the site.  The designs, style and simplicity of their offerings make it the perfect place to stock up on little “extras” that you maybe don’t want to break the bank on, but you also care about not looking cheap or trashy.  Here are a few of my favorite finds! And when I tell you, the PRICES! The clutch, $48; The hair clip $16.. even the shoes are less than $100! If only I would have discovered this site before Mayra got married….

Fantastic, right?  Totally “pin” worthy!  Speaking, of, starting today, you can find our items from the blog on our Pinterest Board “On Always a Blogsmaid”, to make for easy Re-pinning! So be sure to follow us, or follow our board!

So, here is my thought:  Gossip Girl + Royal Wedding + McQueen at Met = Adventures in Bridal Millenary.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a Cathedral length veil of tulle, or a nice, adorable birdcage, but I am particularly adoring the new wave of fashion forward headdress for brides.  I see TONS of 1920′s influence, some 1930′s and a whole lot of Haute Hippy in this new wave of “veils”, and I love that brides are embracing them.  I can’t help but think it’s our general growing level of comfort for headpieces, headbands and fascinators that has been all over the streets in the last few years, but whatever the reason, I just love it. Below, 8 of my favorite fashion forward headpieces.

Top, Left to Right:  Twig and Honey (via Chic Vintage Brides) , Outrageous black feather and White Dahlia head piece by Mesela Studios, Take me back to the original Romeo and Juliet Movie STAT… I just love this Juliet Cap by Dolores Petunia.

Center: Showstopping hat right out of Bonnie and Clyde by Yolancris, The Ashley Veil from Sara Gabriel

Bottom, Left to Right: Lace “scarf” veil by Yolancris, Adorable Gabrielle D’Amico veil on Real Bride (from Stone Fox Bride), another Twig and Honey veil.

You know, honestly, before Mayra’s wedding I sort of thought that a bridal handbag was an unnecessary item for the bride that eventually would become an extra thing for one of the girls on our staff to have to hold onto. But, after Mayra’s big day, it actually proved not only a useful accessory (for hotel room keys, safety pins, some blotting tissues, believe it or not, some cab fare) but ALSO a highly photogenic accessory !  A great prop to make bouquet photos and walking down the street pics more interesting and pretty.  It’s also a way to really establish your “bridal look”, my adding another detail to drive home the message of the kind of bride you want to be. Below, some of my favorite clutches on and around the net right now.

This fabulous Judith Leiber Monica clutch is perfect for a “sweet” bride. I can imagine this with a Carolina Herrera or an Oscar de la Renta gown… Perfectly bridal and perfectly sized. Perfectly pricey too- it’s $995 at Neiman Marcus

This perfectly glam clutch is an amazing $56! at Accesorize (via Polyvore)

This clutch is simply TOO MUCH FUN! It’s a great way to add a little whimsy to your look. It’s also an evening bag you will use again and again. It’s $120 from Cusp.

This Satin bag with black beading is a FANSTICALLY bold way to add some drama to your bridal look. Great if you have black accents and again, a statement bag you will re-wear. It’s a Valentino, it’s $350 only available at Decades (the vintage and consignment mecca)

This is for the EDGY bride. The Fashionista. The bride who wants to punch you in the face with a statement.! Ha, get it? Punch you… it’s a KNUCKLE RING clutch. It’s also a major addition to any closet: the McQueen Gold Leaf Knuckle Ring clutch is whatever price you can find it on Ebay! Via Fashionista.

Our office is around the corner from the NYC Marriage Bureau, a.k.a. “City Hall”, so when I say to you that we are literally always surrounded by Brides, it’s actually true!  In fact, sometimes when the weather is nice, we get tacos at the taco stand by the Brooklyn Bridge and “wedding watch”- sit around and watch all the cute and adorable couples of all ages heading to or coming from tying the knot.   I love City Hall Style, so I was particularly excited when not one, but SEVERAL of my friends emailed me this, touching, adorable Refinery 29 Slideshow of City Hall Weddings… made even more exciting because we RECOGNIZED one of the couples! She was so very cute, and and looked just a little nervous, and her adorable face was burned in my memory!

For the full slideshow (a must view) click here. For my personal favorite highlights, see below. All photos by Winne Au.

The adorable couple we were observing en route to Pongsri. So sweet!