Best San Diego Destination Wedding Vendors

White House Black Market launches Wedding Boutique…

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:46:54 +0000

Oh, how some of wish we could get married again! No, not because we don’t love our husbands, but because of new style launches such as that of White House Black Market’s Wedding Boutique. Oh my. Sigh. These sophisticated, classic yet unique, gowns are hitting high notes in the fashion world. And surprise, surprise… these gowns are affordable! Our fave, featured in this September’s InStyle mag, is “The Victoria” tulle gown ($598, pictured). Is that too much for renewing our vows, honey? For bridesmaids, it’s all about bringing the sexy back–who’s gonna wear that lemon colored dress ever again?– with gowns in black and spicy red. Don’t forget to check out the accessories!

Pretty sweet wedding touches

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:48:04 +0000

As though weddings need to be any sweeter. Well, they do. In this we mean candy, cookies, and little sweet cakes. An emerging trend in the wedding arena is adding a little sugar in the mix. Don’t be mistaken. Wedding cakes aren’t going anywhere, although they are being replaced by tall cupcake towers. Here we are talking about candy bars (like a salad bar only with lemon drops, lollipops and Hershey kisses), elaborate dessert buffets (hellooo tray of cocoa-dusted truffles) and night caps of milk and cookies for wedding guests. While your caterer can provide cakes and cookies, there are a few local San Diego companies that provide candy buffets for wedding. We encourage you to check out Custom Candy Buffet Bars for more information.
How sweet is it to be loved…

Getting in Wedding-Day shape… 10 fingers, 10 toes

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:47:11 +0000

Most photographers will someway, somehow incorporate some photographs of your hands, your ring, you and your beloved holding hands. Some photographers will feature your feet, your shoes, toes dancing in the sand. So, that said, it’s time to stop picking those cuticles and missing your manis and pedis. If you want your hands and feet to be in tip-top shape before the big day, you will want to schedule regular–every two weeks– manicures and pedicures at least two months before your wedding. You’ll also want to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize every morning and night with a thicker cream designated for those tougher, rougher spots. A trip to CVS is all you need. At night, we urge you to use those moisturizing all-cotton gloves to help seal the cream. Cotton socks on the feet every night will do the trick.

Wild Bride: how to do it right

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:17:10 +0000

Peacock feathers. Snakes skin. Leopard. Roooooooarrrr. Welcome to the jungle. We LOVE it! Brides are starting to show off their wild side, whether they hide some leopard pumps under their snowy white gowns or peacock feathers in the centerpieces. You go, gir-roar-l. As far as photos go, little personal touches like this go a long way in telling a pictorial story. Your photographer will love you. That said, as always, we have some tips on how not to go overboard.

Make a statement. A brief, punctuated statement. Make your “wild touch” a little on the demur side. Translation: NO leopard wedding gowns or bridesmaid dresses. We are talking small touches. (On that note, it is our belief that Big did not get out of the limo in Sex In the City because he saw his bride, who was wearing a big bird in her hair. A bird, Carrie? Really?)
If it is not you, it’s not you. No faking. If you are not wild and you wish to ignore this post altogether, do it. Don’t fake the funk. You’ll regret it when you are looking at your wedding album much in the same way you look at what you wore to your high school dances. Your wedding is a reflection of your style. If you are more Hamptons than Greenwich Village, it’s OK. You are a grown up and you have preferences. Move on.
If you are going to really mix it up, we encourage you to grab a posterboard, the glue stick and some swatches so you can really envision your colors and touches. Think about it. Don’t let your wild child decision be one you make on a whim. It’s your wedding; take your time.

Would you like some fries with your marriage? Yo Quiero get married?

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:07:22 +0000

We know the economy is bad, but really? As reported in USA Today… um… today, retail site weddings are on the up. The article mentions TJ Maxx and Taco Bell as recent wedding destinations. Um, we think, no. Saying “I do” in the same place that someone else said the same thing when asked if they wanted their meal supersized is, well, sort of corny. Don’t go there. However, we really dig it when the wedding party cruises on over to the local McDonald’s or Burger King for some cute between-the-ceremony-and-reception photos. Why? Cause we all know you were up at 6 a.m. getting your hair done, that you didn’t eat anything all day, and that everybody loves french fries. These fast food places add a hint of color and Americana to your portfolio of wedding day photos, which in some cases, when done well, tell the story of “your day.” We love what Seattle Photographer Daniel Sheehan, of A Beautiful Day Photography, did with this wedding shot. How sweet it is to be loved… and enjoying an ice cream cone at McDonald’s.

The bride’s bouquet of friends: What not to do…

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:40:04 +0000

Here’s comes the bride… and every girl she’s been friends with since her toddler play dates. OK, this may be a touchy subject, especially since there are so many offenders out there. Brides, before you hire a private investigator to track down that girl you sat next to in math in the 3rd grade, you really need to start thinking of who ought to be in your wedding party. Those of you with huge families you may not have an “out” here, as a lot of family traditions call for larger than life wedding parties. Here I am thinking of the crowd in fluffy blue tulle in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” As for the rest of us, being a bridesmaid is expensive and the economy is a little shaky now. You might want to reconsider who you may be burdening with your request and keep your party in check. Here are a few bridesmaid “don’ts” that are trending right now:

In the case of a destination wedding and fluffy gowns, being considerate in this department is super important, as it could batter a friendship. We know of one bride who paid for her bridemaids’ gowns for her destination wedding as a sort of nod to say, hey, “it’s important to me that you are there.” High five sister. Conversely, we know of one girl who made her bridesmaids–14 of them, most traveling from out of town– buy $300 designer gowns, pay for an outlandish catered shower, an extravagant bachelorette party, and a pricy trip to the salon for pre-wedding primping. OK lady, it’s your day; we get it. But please be considerate.
Dictating every style choice for your bridesmaids can be a little annoying. As women get married later in life, and have bridesmaids that are also a little set in their adult ways, it’s fast becoming a no-no to tell a grown woman that she has to wear the same pink eyeshadow and peach nail polish, or that she has to wear her hair in a lacquered-to-her-head french twist, even if she sports a pixie do. Give your gals some guidelines– soft and natural, muted, hair swept up, shades of purple–and be easy about it. We are big girls now.
OK, Mimi has been gaining weight steadily since college. Chances are, Mimi knows this. She may be battling her weight. She’s been chubby since your 28th birthday party in Vegas. That said, telling her she has to lose weight for your wedding is highly insensitive. Always be supportive of pals facing weighty issues; but don’t dictate. Be understanding; it’s a journey. You love her for who she is, no matter the size, right?
On that note, new moms are delicate flowers. If you have a gal in your wedding party that just had a baby you need to be ultra patient. Being a new mom is ice-water shocking. You lose sleep. You don’t have time to shower, much less plan a shower. So if Betty forgets a fitting, give her a break.

Introducing Adele Wechsler: Eco-friendly designer

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:23:12 +0000

Move over Vera Wang, you are not the only designer sought after in the wedding belle department! A designer we love, and one who is making headlines with her eco-friendly designs, is Adele Wechsler. With gowns that breath an air of simplicity and ethereal beauty, Adele’s gowns are earth friendly and are sure to turn heads. Before you think “potato sack,” we have to say these gowns are truly gorgeous. Under her ECO COUTURE line, gowns are made of organic hemp and silk, vegetable dyes, and most romantic, remnant fabrics. We like the throw back to something a little more natural, a little less synthetic. That’s what makes a truly wonderful marriage, no?

Adele’s collection can be found at The White Flower bridal boutique on 5th and Laurel downtown San Diego.

Your something blue: Elvis style

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:10:13 +0000

We can’t stress how much we love when a bride’s funky style peek-a-boos into her traditional wedding scheme. Our photographers say this is a great way to let a wedding step out of the norm, making for some excellent photos and fun memories. A unique way to show a little pizzazz is in the footwear department. Whether you are looking for something a little strappy, a little funky, or romantic, blue suede is a wedding wowser! We checked out styles on endless.com, see above, after searching for “blue suede.” What a great selection! So if you are looking for your something blue and the bridal shoppe is fresh our of lacy blue-ribboned garters, why not turn to fancy footwear?

Giving away the bride… you decide!

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:53:45 +0000

Nevermind seating charts and meat or fish. Brides, the one area of your wedding scheme where you could likely damage your relationship with others, among the most important in your life perhaps, is who you ask to walk you down the aisle. Here comes the … incredibly touchy subject for some. As you know, America is a land of untraditional families and circumstances. Single moms who worked two jobs to help make ends meet. Stepdads who watched you take your first steps. Divorces galore. Strained relationships. Uncles who never missed a dance recital. Siblings who cooked your dinner every night. Take your pick. We know, we know. As a nation of independent women who are getting married later in life, and not exactly three months after prom as was done in yesteryears, the thought of being “given away” to your groom, who you might have been living with for three years, is a little outdated and silly. But just like the veils that were originally intended to mask the bride from the groom in the arranged marriages of the Middle Ages, this traditional may never go away no matter how much money you put towards your own wedding or whether you and the people who raised you live in different time zones. So tread carefully. You don’t want to trip in this issue and have regrets. Make someone’s day. You, and only you, know who to choose.

The Etsy bitsy wedding favors that pack much style…

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:04:40 +0000

Etsy is fast creating a cult following for linking artisans, crafters and artists to consumers in search of something–anything!– unique and memorable. Wedding favors are no exception in this department. Moving away from the standard Hershey Kisses pack in fluffy toole or anything ceramic people are likely to break as they are drunk getting into their taxi, Etsy offers some fun and cheap favors that are sure to have people talking. We picked a few inexpensive ones that we we liked, see photos, but feel free to wander about on Etsy. The labels, seen at Jessica’s Design Shop on Etsy, come in popcorn and coffee, as well as an array of colors. The origami wedding “cootie catcher,” available at Kat’s Krafts, also comes in an assortment of colors and is a great way to let your guests learn a thing or two about the happy couple. We also fell in love with the water bottle labels, available at Cherished Times.