We have juicy news for all you Vera Wang fanatics ! Are you ready ? Miss Vera Wang has finally broadened her scope from bride to bridesmaid !
Near the end of this month she will release a 7 – piece bridesmaid dress collection under the White by Vera Wang label ! For those of you not yet aware, White by Vera Wang is a collection of show-stopping bridal gowns (soon to include bridesmaid dresses) exclusively available at David’s Bridal; not only are these gowns gorgeous, luxurious and fashionable, they’re also affordable (bridal gown price-point= $600 - $1100) !
With Vera’s new bridesmaid collection you’ll have girls begging to be in your bridal party ! Our favourites amongst the collection include: a one-shoulder chiffon stunner detailed with oversized rosettes, as well as a strapless horizontally pleated cocktail gown with bubble hem. The collection comes in the yummiest assortment of colours ranging from amethyst, charcoal, blush, champagne and orchid. All 7 bridesmaid gowns are priced under $200 (who would have thought they could score a Vera at such a low price-point) !
What’s next on the horizon for Vera Wang – bridal goddess? We’ve heard whispers of a bridal shoe collection ! As always, we’ll keep you posted !
Pop-in the classic ’50s film Funny Face starring Audrey Hepburn and get inspired !
It’s time to raise your hemlines ladies; tea-length bridal gowns are back on the rise and we at Melissa Andre Events couldn’t be happier about it. There is something so darling, so flirtatious, and yet so fashion-forward about a tea-length bridal gown. We can’t help but imagine pairing a bride wearing this style with a garden-party themed soiree; an outdoor ceremony and reception, scrumptious miniature desserts (think teeny-tiny cupcakes, meringue-cookies, and powdered beignets), guests playing croquet and carrying parasols, and tea served from china cups
Not ready for total tea-length style? Not a problem ! Many of our brides opt for a traditional length gown during the ceremony and change into something shorter to dance-the-night-away during the reception. Pictured below you’ll find shots from a ’50s inspired shoot we styled (note how our bride wore both a shorter length bridal gown) ! You can see even more gorgeous photos of this bridal style at http://melissaandre.com/galleries/grace-james
Oh! One last piece of advice, be sure to splurge on a fabulous pair of heels because with a tea-length gown they are guaranteed to be in full view !
Traditional guest-books prompt wedding guests to do little more than sign their names and scrawl a quick congratulations. Yawn ! Weddings are no longer solemn to-dos; they have transformed into reflections of the couple’s personality (with candy buffets, photo banquets, and custom cocktails) and it is time for guest-books to follow suit! We at Melissa Andre Events have worked hard to create clever and unique guest-book ideas to match our clever and unique clients.
Jordana & Dave created a guest-book comprised entirely of dates! Their guests were encouraged to find their name amongst miniature flags and plant it on the year they met the bride or groom.
The oh-so-adorable Kim & Shawn opted for a guest-book wish tree! Guests were encouraged to jot down their hopes and dreams for the newlyweds and hang them upon the tree (warning: keep tissues handy as completed notes are guaranteed tear-jerkers).
How about persuading your videographer to shoot a video guest-book? Or stirring conversation with question and answer guest-book pages (example: Where do you see the newlyweds in 20 years ? Or what will their first fight be about ? ) You can always count on us to have something creative up our sleeve . .
Fresh off the nuptials of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, we in wedding world are expecting to see a big trend in black and white soirees. White and black are the ultimate in high glamour, and Ms. Kardashian never fails to impress us with all those sparkles.
The reality star we can’t seem to get enough of didn’t settle for only one, but THREE Couture Vera Wang wedding gowns! From a princess-style ball gown to a more fitted 50’s inspired evening gown, fashion played a big role when it came to Kim’s big day.
The contrast between black and white adds a drama that doesn’t disappoint. The 6 foot tall cake from ‘Hansen’s Cakes’ was a focal point at the entrance of the reception. The black and white theme was carried through every detail of the day – including the bridal party’s attire. Not only were guests encouraged to wear either black or white, but the bridesmaids were also glowing in ivory silk organza gowns by none other than Vera Wang.
For the last few years, we’ve spotted numerous bridesmaid dresses trending towards darker hues – black and grey being amongst the favorites. But, with Pippa turning heads at the Royal Wedding and now Kim’s sisters making statements in ivory, we are sure the trend will begin moving in the opposite direction.
Why wait till your wedding day to feel like a princess? Melissa Andre is the newest addition to our team, providing sweet details about the dreamy weddings she designs and the fabulous products she finds, making you feel like a blushing bride everyday!
Not only is Melissa the ultimate Fashionista, but she is also the founder and creative director of Melissa Andre Events – Celebrate.Beauty., a premium event planning & design firm specializing in the production of elegant, lavish weddings. With close to a decade of experience, Melissa has garnered an industry-wide reputation for achieving dazzling results in the conceptualization, execution, and management of spectacular high-end weddings and special events.
Melissa’s work has appeared in WedLuxe, Toronto Life & Toronto Life Weddings, Elegant Wedding Magazine, The Wedding Co., Style Me Pretty, Weddingbells, ET Canada, The Wedding Chicks, Women’s Post, Style File, Bizbash Magazine and on Fashion Television, among others.
The Inside Scoop on Melissa;
Q. What’s your favorite bridal accessory?
A. Makeup, of course! On any other weekend, don’t we style-savvy girls change our looks from day to eve? So, why wouldn’t this be the case on our wedding day?
The best thing about makeup is that it comes off quicker than it goes on. It’s the ultimate bridal accessory!
From soft and romantic for your wedding ceremony, to flirty and fun once dancing begins, I love a bride that changes her look to suit the setting.
Q. What’s your favorite shop? What makes it special?
A. I love the Sunday morning Antique shops at St. Lawrence market. The first item I ever purchased was a gorgeous milk glass vase. I buy fresh flowers to fill it twice a week. I love buying vintage photo frames at the market and using them to add unlikely decor to the weddings I style. I found a really special antique mailbox at the market once and purchase it for my clients who I had designed a “love letter” themed wedding for. I have this gorgeous collection of antique tea cups that are perfectly mismatched – all purchased from the antique market. If you visit my home, I always serve water in an antique silver water pitcher I found at the market. It’s completely detailed with roses. It makes the water taste a bit more special.
Q. What would eFashionista members be surprised to know about you?
A. When I was 4 I asked my parents to buy me a fax machine for Christmas. I’ve always known I wanted to run my own business.
Q. Any pet peeves?
A. When people ask me if my twin brother and I are identical. I always respond, “I hope not!”
Q.Favorite cupcake flavor?
A. Can anything really cheer someone up better than delectably scrumptious sweets?! I have this beautiful portfolio in my studio of sweet tables I have designed and style. It’s one of the first things I show my new clients! At my last dinner party I gave my guests “Cupcake in a jar” as the favours! Imagine an adorable mason jar filled with chocolate cake, layered with with dulce de leche and hazelnut butter cream, sprinkled with crushed pecans and wrapped in a perfect pink satin bow! Pure perfection!
Everyone in the wedding AND beauty industries have been buzzing about the royal wedding and Kate’s gorgeous glow!
Seeing as how I work in both industries I was especially excited to see Kate’s wedding day look! Speculations had been flying about whether Kate Middleton would opt for a classic fresh-faced beauty look or something a bit more trendy and fashion-forward. I have even heard some rumours that Kate did her own makeup on her wedding day! Although, we may not know for sure, I have decided that a Bridal Beauty Must-Haves list was a necessary edition to my blog!
Here are my 4 Bridal Beauty Must Haves!
1) Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer Light
It’s absolute magic and contains vitamin C and Peptides to give your skin an even complexion. It’s the first think a prep a bride’s face! Your foundation will go on smoother, wear longer, and look even more perfect. It’s always a must-have in my bridal beauty kit.
2) YSL Touche Eclat
Touch Eclat has been called the holy grail of eye illuminators. It works as an under eye concealer with a skin reflecting light and I wouldn’t leave my studio without it! It makes you look brighter, more refreshed, and is the perfect touch-up tool for a bride to carry with her throughout the day.
3) Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara
This is my absolute favourite mascara for brides! It intensifies the look of your lashes, makes them appear thicker while perfectly separating them. It’s the finishing touch to any bridal beauty look. Don’t forget to opt for the waterproof formula so that you look flawless even if you get a bit teary-eyed.
4) MAC Plushglass
MAC’s Plushglass is a plumping lipgloss with a high shine pearly gloss finish. The fact that it’s scented with sweet vanilla is just a delicious bonus! On a day where kissing is especially important, I love how easy this gloss is to reapply without all the stickiness that bride’s can stand to live without ! My favourite shade is Big baby!
For months, wedding and royal enthusiasts alike waited for THE day that Will & Kate would become Mr. and Mrs. – April 29th 2011. In lavish fascinators and hats millions of observers all over the world set their alarm clocks for hours that would in any other situation seem totally unspeakable. At 4:30 AM, myself and a few fellow wedding planners arrived at one of Toronto’s oldest hotels (The Fairmont ROYAL York – how fitting, right?) for an elegant tea service and nonstop Royal Wedding chitchat!
The wedding was more than just gorgeous, it was truly magical and I have no doubt that it will influence some major wedding trends in the coming years.
1) Coloured Bling
Kate’s reported 9-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring once belonged to Prince William’s late mother – Princess Diana. The unique colour will no doubt be popping onto the ring finger’s of many newly engaged brides-to-be!
2) Here comes the Bridesmaid, all dressed in….
Over the last few years, bridesmaids dresses have been trending in the darker shades. Black, Grey, and Navy have been completely common but I have a feeling that this trend is about to change. With Pippa Middleton stunning viewers all over the world in her floor length ivory McQueen gown, I think that bridal party attire will get lighter, brighter, and maybe even whiter.
3) Saying Bye-Bye to Strapless…
For many years the sleeveless and strapless bridal gown has been by far the most popular silhouette.However, with it’s hand-made gorgeous lace sleeves, Kate’s Grace Kelly inspired McQueen gown was nothing short of princess perfection. According to the press release, Kate wished for her dress to “combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterized Alexander McQueen’s work.” It was exactly that! Fit for a princess, this complicated and detailed design is sure to influence bridal fashion trends all over the world.
With everyone still gushing over the fashion at the Royal wedding I had to dedicate a post to fancy fascinators!
A fascinator is essentially a woman’s head decor. It’s something between a head band and a hat. A cross between hair barrette and a mini chapeau. It is often made of feathers, jewels, beautiful fabrics, and even a small veil. In other words, fascinators can be the ultimate fashion statement. While many people were only recently introduced to the gorgeous world of fascinators, true fashionistas have been in love with these frilly beauties for years! I for one am totally smitten with the idea of adding a bit of glamour to the top of my head and am hoping to see many more of these pretty headpieces making appearances at some of my events!
For brides who love the idea of doing something a little different but aren’t necessarily ready to sport a cluster of butterflies on their head, I love the idea of a birdcage veil with a little something extra. It’s a beautiful alternative to a bridal veil and a simple way to incorporate something special into your bridal hairstyle.
Who could forget the custom pink Monique Lhuillier gown that Reese Witherspoon donned during her nuptials to Jim Toth? Ready to score your very own ? We were (literally) tickled pink to find several blush-coloured gowns amongst Monique Lhuillier’s newest (2012) collection! Lhuillier’s pink gowns are defiantly feminine, yet still subtle, romantic and sweet. Take a browse through her rosy selection and help us pick a favorite!
We LOVE the fact that designers are incorporating more colors into their collections AND applaud brides who are willing to go beyond tradition and select gowns that are statements of their colorful selves! Not quite ready to jump off the deep end with this colourful trend? No problem! An adorable alternative is opting for a coloured sash (think Kloe Kardashian’s lavender sash atop her Vera Wang bridal gown).
We have juicy news for all you Vera Wang fanatics ! Are you ready ? Miss Vera Wang has finally broadened her scope from bride to bridesmaid !
Near the end of this month she will release a 7 – piece bridesmaid dress collection under the White by Vera Wang label ! For those of you not yet aware, White by Vera Wang is a collection of show-stopping bridal gowns (soon to include bridesmaid dresses) exclusively available at David’s Bridal; not only are these gowns gorgeous, luxurious and fashionable, they’re also affordable (bridal gown price-point= $600 - $1100) !
With Vera’s new bridesmaid collection you’ll have girls begging to be in your bridal party ! Our favourites amongst the collection include: a one-shoulder chiffon stunner detailed with oversized rosettes, as well as a strapless horizontally pleated cocktail gown with bubble hem. The collection comes in the yummiest assortment of colours ranging from amethyst, charcoal, blush, champagne and orchid. All 7 bridesmaid gowns are priced under $200 (who would have thought they could score a Vera at such a low price-point) !
What’s next on the horizon for Vera Wang – bridal goddess? We’ve heard whispers of a bridal shoe collection ! As always, we’ll keep you posted !
Fresh off the nuptials of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, we in wedding world are expecting to see a big trend in black and white soirees. White and black are the ultimate in high glamour, and Ms. Kardashian never fails to impress us with all those sparkles.
The reality star we can’t seem to get enough of didn’t settle for only one, but THREE Couture Vera Wang wedding gowns! From a princess-style ball gown to a more fitted 50’s inspired evening gown, fashion played a big role when it came to Kim’s big day.
The contrast between black and white adds a drama that doesn’t disappoint. The 6 foot tall cake from ‘Hansen’s Cakes’ was a focal point at the entrance of the reception. The black and white theme was carried through every detail of the day – including the bridal party’s attire. Not only were guests encouraged to wear either black or white, but the bridesmaids were also glowing in ivory silk organza gowns by none other than Vera Wang.
For the last few years, we’ve spotted numerous bridesmaid dresses trending towards darker hues – black and grey being amongst the favorites. But, with Pippa turning heads at the Royal Wedding and now Kim’s sisters making statements in ivory, we are sure the trend will begin moving in the opposite direction.
