Showing posts with label brides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brides. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2010

Julia's Fashion File: These Shoes are Made for Walking

Shoes are important. They protect and provide comfort for our feet from the wear and tear of our daily grind, they keep our tootsies warm in the winter months, they showcase our colorful nails in the summer after an expensive pedicure and most importantly, they're an avenue of self expression. From stilettos to sneakers and every size heel in between, there's something for everyone out there...but is there something for every bride?



Being a woman who has exceptionally finicky feet, I've found myself on one too many occasions breaking in to a cold sweat at the thought of having to pick out shoes for any occasion let alone for my hypothetical big day. I'd like to believe that I'm not the only one out there who can't wear a 5 inch heel but regardless of what you desire out of your bridal shoes, I've found the perfect site for all tastes and sizes.



Bridalshoes.com offers a huge assortment of quality and fashionable choices for a wide variety of brides out there. I've come across quite a few cheesy and cheap looking bridal shoes so it was refreshing to come across an abundance of awesome finds on one site, most of which I'd recommend to a friend. The prices are reasonable as well so you won't feel guilty buying your favorite pair and then kicking them off when the dancing starts.

Speaking of recommendations, I picked out a few awesome pairs of heels that if I could sport, I would wear in a heartbeat. Nina Ambert offers a stunning white satin, strappy open-toe sandal with a 3 1/2 heel for brides who want a classy yet look-at-me style.

Chinese Laundry offers a sassy ivory sandal adorned with a classic bow and a few flashy touches for the bride who wants the wow factor.

Alternatively, for those that can't or don't want to walk down the isle in treacherously high heels, they offer flats as well! This was the biggest selling point for me; elegant and flat don't typically belong together in the same sentence but bridalshoes.com offers a huge variety of small heels to flats. It's a dream come true for sensitive feet.



My favorite pair is the kitten heel with crossed toe straps by Coloriffics.


Your dress is the centerpiece but your shoes are going to take you to the alter. Choose wisely, fashionably and comfortably; you shouldn't have to sacrifice one over the other.

xoxo
Jules

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Vendor Spotlight: Todd Parsons, Photographer

Todd Parsons tells us about getting his head start to becoming a photographer: “When I was a kid, my family moved around a lot. To make friends, I learned quickly to get a handle on any situation, read people and make them feel relaxed and comfortable. I've studied how to allow people to be themselves my whole life. It was the perfect apprenticeship on the way to becoming a photographer."


When we asked him ‘why weddings?’ he tells us, “I remember when the lightening bolt struck. I was at a friend's wedding, the ‘I want to do this’ moment. The energy, the family, the love. Weddings bring out so many emotions and they are a fascinating experience. I have been behind the camera many times with a tear streaking down; I can't help but sometimes getting wrapped up in it all.”



Todd tells us he looks at work from other photographers whom he respects and admires for inspiration. He loves the outdoors and is equally fascinated with urban landscape. He also stresses that constant education is critical explaining, “Technology is changing so fast, and photographers have to stay ahead of the curve. I attend several workshops a year, sometimes wedding related, but most of the time not. Yet I find applying knowledge learned from photographing landscapes or action sports leads to wonderful wedding images.”

Why Todd? “My clients can expect 100% satisfaction, professionalism and a good-natured human being. Style is important but so is a personal connection with each other. I let my brides know that, ‘Hey, I've got it covered. Of all the things you're going to worry about, photography isn't one of them.’ Grooms? Just buy them a beer and they're good.”
To view more of Todd’s beautiful work, visit:
http://www.toddparsons.net/

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Spotted: Gallery of Jewels, San Francisco Jeweler

Ring by G. Phil Poirier

For your “all that glitters” needs, consider stopping by Gallery of Jewels for some of the most unique wedding jewelry we’ve ever seen. Starting off on weekends in 1989 selling original jewelry off a card table, Dona and Bill Hoover, along with contributions from their designer friends, brought Gallery of Jewels to life. Eventually they signed a coveted lease on 24th Street in Noe Valley.

Many mall properties have invited them to join their ranks but they've resisted, primarily because they want their customers to enjoy a “boutique experience”. Each Gallery has its own look, feel, and unique collections. And they’ve always had a tremendous selection of jewelry with a range of style and price—something for every occasion and budget.








Rings by Okomido





Ring by Alberto Parada









Rings by Anne Sportun


They began offering off-the rack and custom wedding, engagement and commitment jewelry in 2007. Of the 100+ designers they currently showcase, over 50 of them design wedding jewelry. So, why this addition? “Witnessing two people in love is infectious. Guiding love birds to their special connection is a gratifying experience. Listening and interpreting their wants and needs brings smiles to everyone’s face. This process may take 5 minutes or two months of constant trial and error. Either or, the end result is our mission.”

We love that Gallery of Jewels is a non-traditional jewelry store. They are devoted to supporting the artist community. They simply choose artists who create unusual and out-of-the-ordinary designs. You can bet your engagement or wedding day rings will be that original. After all, so is your love story.
Rings By Sarah Richardson

Stop by Gallery of Jewels at:
2115 Fillmore Street (Pacific Heights)
4089 24th Street (Noe Valley)
2101 Union Street (Cow Hollow)
Visit: http://www.galleryofjewels.com/

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Scene & Heard: Gowns, Gowns, Gowns

Hey Brides-to-Be, here are a couple of great opportunities to check out some beautiful potential - or simply inspirational- gowns:

May 21 & 22, 11am-5pm: Oscar de la Renta at Marina Morrison
Book your appointment and oogle at Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2011 Bridal Collection at Marina Morrison in downtown San Francisco. Making its debut straight off the runways from New York Bridal Fashion Week, Marina Morrison is the only bridal retailer to carry Oscar de la Renta wedding gowns in Northern California.

Where: Marina Morrison-30 Maiden Lane, 4th Fl., San Francisco, CA 94108
RSVP @ 415-984-9360

May 22 & 23, 10am-6pm: Alix & Kelly Trunk Show at Bella Bridesmaid

Book your appointment to view the 2010 Alix & Kelly Collection at Bella Bridesmaid Los Gatos. Cake and champagne cocktails will be passed, and get this: save 10% off all orders placed by June 6th, 2010.

Where: Bella Bridesmaid-465 N. Santa Cruz Ave.Suite ALos Gatos, CA 95030
RSVP @ 408-399-4649 or losgatos@bellabridesmaid.com

Happy looking!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Spotted: Brilliant Idea, Nailed

As many brides know, Essie nail polish can’t be beat. Their simple design, vast array of relevant shades and their no-chip reputation make Essie the queen bee when it comes to painting your nails and toes. Spotted: the perfect wedding day colors shown on the Wedding Collection display at Pure Beauty on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. They also package a mini set of four colors for $12.50; what a thoughtful idea to hand out to your bridesmaids as part of their gift from you. After all, just like we can’t have enough black shoes, we can’t have enough pale nail polish colors either!


To take a peek at the line, visit The Wedding Collection.


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Scene & Heard: Gem & Jewelry Event

Ok, ladies. You’ve got your ring. Now what? You guys need to start thinking about your bands. It’s not something you want to take lightly (literally), or leave until the last minute. Head over to 888 Brannan (formerly known as the San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart) starting this Wednesday for a peek at the best of San Francisco’s jewelers and their finest picks. Great prices, great vendors, and a great array of jewelry from engagement rings, bands and pieces for your Big Day. Go with high hopes, we wish you luck!

May 5-7, 9am-5pm

May 8, 10am-4pm

www.888brannan.com

Friday, April 30, 2010

Julia's Fashion File: Beauty and The Brooch

Adorning your bridal ensemble with a brooch, like jewelry, needs to be done tastefully or it can go terribly awry. However, unlike your typical drop earrings or dainty pearl necklace, a brooch can add something extra special and unique to your overall look; it's different, fun, and if done properly, will have people wishing they'd thought of it themselves.

As I was perusing the net this morning to find some pieces that I felt would enhance a bride's beauty, I was surprised to see that there weren't a whole lot of pictures out there showing brides how to use them or where to put them. Here are a few of the ideas that I found useful on Bride.net:

1) Use it as a hair pin and put it in your favorite up-do (like in the top above). You can work with your stylist to incorporate it in.

2) Add it to your sash in the front or in the back of the gown (bridesmaids dresses, too!):

3) Place it on your bouquet's at the base where the stems are gathered:


4) Add it to your flower girl's basket or ring bearer's pillow:

5) Strategically place it on a more simple gown to add flare:

There are countless ways to enhance your ensemble with a tasteful brooch. Play around with it and get a few opinions on where it looks best on the gown you've chosen.

Now where do you find an amazing brooch that feels right for you? The Internet (eBay will have tons!) again, will be a fantastic resource for you. As well as antique shops, second hand stores, and vintage jewelry shops.

I found a few I really love on Wedding Factory Direct and Emmaline Bride: http://www.weddingfactorydirect.com/index.html and http://emmalinebride.com/index.php.

Now go forth, my beauties, and find the brooch that makes you excited!

xoxo

Jules

Monday, April 26, 2010

Vendor Spotlight: Lidia Sadoun, Florist

Vendor Spotlight: Lidia Sadoun, Florist
http://www.lafleuriste.com/

Once you look at Lidia’s work, you’ll know why she’s as successful as she is. She’s worked in the floral industry for 13 years. She began working in a flower shop as a side job, just because she thought it would be “fun.” Well, she fell in love, and now she can’t imagine doing anything else.

Lidia loves creating floral arrangements for weddings, mostly because each one is always different. The colors change, the themes are varied, and each bride is unique. She has a sweet spot for making the actual bridal bouquets for a wedding: it’s the challenge of creating something that genuinely reflects the bride’s preferences and personality.

Last year La Fleuriste did the flowers for a truly unique wedding at a gorgeous ranch in the Carmel Valley. The theme was vintage chic and she accomplished this look by using certain elements and containers. Each centerpiece was different, and each design included a series of funky glass bottles/vessels – all fabulous flea market finds, including old French mason jars. The flowers included Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Blushing Bride, Chamomile and many other interesting elements. The arrangements were also complemented with lush greenery, including Mint and other herbs, Clematis foliage, and Passion vine. The overall look was rustic, yet elegant. It was one of her favorite weddings to date.

Lidia finds creative inspiration almost everywhere: “Nature, obviously. Just walking down the street, I am often stopped by the sight of trees or plants. It might be a color that catches my attention, or it might be the shape of a particular branch. These images then stay with me and when I’m working in the studio, they are translated into floral arrangements. And at a more local level, I sometimes let the flowers and vessels that I am working with guide me. Instead of forcing the elements to go this way or that way, I let them choose their path and the end result is often stunning.”


“People also play a part in this process,” she says, “In my commitment to making each event original it is sometimes the voice of the bride that I hear when deciding which direction to go.” All you have to do is look at her work to see how unique Lidia’s designs truly are.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Planner on Patrol: Vera Wang for David's Bridal

Ever dream of getting your hands on a designer gown without having to fight your way through a sample sale or paying the equivalent of a down payment on a house? Now you can: Vera Wang will begin designing dresses for David's Bridal and will include some priced below $1,500. Considering how much some dresses cost, this is a super deal. Read more here

Oh, and (more) affordable priced shoes and accessories from Vera are also on the way!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Spotted: Robyn Rhodes, Jewelry Designer

Robyn Rhodes is a natural, making jewelry as a hobby since she was 12yo. Eight years ago, she complimented her aunt on her necklace and thought "I can do that". This inspired her to pick up her old hobby and begin creating unique pieces for friends and family. Thus, her line was born.

Robyn says designing for brides is one of her favorite challenges. She loves to create pieces for a bride’s biggest day, andtakes her creative process very seriously: “You don’t want to overshadow the bride and her dress.” Her basic take on creating wedding jewelry is that she wants her clients to wear the jewelry over and over again. Think: timeless and classic.

What can you expect when working with Robyn to create one-of-a-kind pieces for your big day? For starters, Her attention to detail and her love of neutral stones that you will be able to wear for years past your wedding day. She also loves to layer, giving people the impression that it took you forever to get the look, when in actuality, it took about 30 seconds to put on.

“It is important for me to designs pieces that you can wear all different ways, so you get the most out of your RR piece,” she says. “I am always coming up with new designs, so every time someone logs onto my site, they will see something new!” One last note: all her materials are made in the USA. We think that’s pretty sparkly.


To view her beautiful collections and for 20% off, visit:
http://www.robynrhodes.com/
Mention code: RRFANS

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Will you...?

Welcome to our Bridebound blog!

We’ve hit the ground running and we’re excited to bring our readers unique content about California’s Bay Area wedding planning community. From trends to fashion to venues to DIY ideas to profiling wedding vendors we think are the cat’s meow, we look forward to bringing you all that’s worth mentioning in or around the Bay. If your eyes have spotted something fabulous or your ears have heard about something delicious, give us the scoop at bridebound@gmail.com

XX Meredith & Carlos