Monthly Musing: Inbal Dror
In the spirit of New York Bridal Fashion Week last weekend, we thought we’d feature our favorite designer, Inbal Dror. When it come to wedding gowns, nothing compares to the glamour and femininity of her gowns. The silhouettes and incredible detail make her gowns true masterpieces. Her use of delicate fabrics, french lace, and embroidery leave us seriously swooning over these dresses. And if you don’t believe us, take a look for yourself!
The 2016 Pantone Colors {yes there's two!!} of the Year
What’s better than one Pantone Color of the Year? Well, obviously it’s two beautiful yet soft Pantone Colors of the Year that can be richened with deeper colors and metallics for weddings. And the 2016 winners are just that! Rose Quartz, a warm pink color, and Serenity, a cool periwinkle color, may sound a little like a perfect baby shower combination {at least we think so}, but can actually be utilized to create beautiful weddings if you do it the right way! Combine Rose Quartz with Marsala {last year’s Pantone Color of the Year} and Gold or Serenity with Silver and another deeper cool tone like Navy to create your stand-out wedding! From decor to bouquets to bridesmaid dresses, you can’t go wrong with either of these colors when they are incorporated with the right tones and color schemes!
Monthly Musing: Jewel-Tones
When planning a holiday wedding or event, you don’t want it to scream red and green with pine trees, red bows, and snowflakes. In fact, we at Style-Architects insist that it doesn’t. Using deep, bold jewel-tones, such as teal, ruby red, sapphire, emerald and magenta, is a fun, unexpected way to enhance and dramatize a holiday wedding. And even better, it’s on trend! Jewel-tones create a stand-out wedding in a regal manner. {What bride doesn’t want to feel like royalty on her wedding?} So with that, may your {wedding} day be merry and bright {with jewel-toned colors}!
Wedding Pinspiration: Peach Echo
The best way to cure the “winter is coming” blues is to start looking forward to beautiful, sunny springtime! It’s never too early, right? And what better way than to be inspired by Pantone Spring 2016 colors, especially one of our all-time favorites, Peach Echo. This color is an orangey-pink shade that screams spring! The gorgeous, bright, refreshing tone is completely versatile for weddings; you can either dress it up with metallic gold or slate grey accents or make it more casual by incorporating fun, fruity drinks in mason jars or wildflower arrangements. In other words, it works for a barn or a ballroom! This color is making us feel peachy-keen already!
Take a look at our Pinterest board for more {Peach Echo} Pinspiration!
It’s the Men’s Turn: Accessorize with Style
Brides should always steal the show, but what about the groom? They matter too! Make your man stand out with eye-catching accessories; ties, cufflinks, boutonnieres, and shoes can make a bold, impressive statement. Don’t be afraid to mismatch patterns + colors between pocket square, button-down shirt and tie. Patterns are very popular. Consider polka dots, stripes, and plaid in velvet or wool over a boring solid look. With ties and suspenders, the narrower, the better. Go for a pop of color in shoes! Mix in some vintage touches with a gold pocket watch or antique cufflinks. And who can forget about the traditional boutonniere {yet not so traditional} when you incorporate succulents, greenery, and lavender? Winning style!
Incorporate some of these ideas and now grooms, you too will look equally as stunning as your beautiful bride. {Just kidding!} The bride always takes the cake, but now you’ll look even better standing next to her. Happy styling!
Bridal Fashion Week: Fall 2016
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: New York’s 2016 Bridal Fashion Week! The designers took classic wedding fashion looks, like lace and the fairytale ball gown and transformed them into fresh, daring looks for the fashion-forward bride. From plunging necklines, to lingerie-inspired bodices, to detachable skirts, to illusion mesh and peekaboo details, the 2016 trends are fun and flirty!
Vera Wang
Berta
Inbal Dror
Ines Di Santo
Hayley Paige
Monique Lhuillier
Lazaro
Oscar de la Renta
And {of course}, who can forget about the shoes! White sandals with ribbons, cutouts, and lace are enough to make your feet stand out, but obviously not enough to overpower the jaw-dropping gown. Any girl would want these in her own wardrobe!
Marchesa
Monique Lhuillier
Marchesa
Naeem Khan
Fall in love yet? We can’t wait to see these looks on our brides next summer!
Spice Up Your Wedding
With all of the Pinterest-crazy brides out there {don’t get us wrong, we love to pin!}, it can sometimes be difficult to find ways to make your special day stand out among the rest. The professionals at Style-Architects Weddings have simple changes to the typical wedding that make a big difference!
1. Play with timing
Who says that your wedding has to be the traditional order of ceremony, cocktails, and dinner? We sure don’t. Why not have a cocktail hour before the ceremony? A pre-ceremony cocktail hour is ideal for Friday evening weddings where most guests will be coming from work and really need a drink! This also eliminates guest anxiety about walking in late to a ceremony by using the social hour as a buffer.
And..Who says all the toasts and dancing need to be at the end of dinner service {no offense but delaying the fun even more!}? Mix it up and have your first dance right after the grand march. This opens up the timeline and allows you to pepper the dances and speeches throughout the dinner service.
2. Ditch traditional food/bar service
No one is going to complain about being served chicken at a wedding. Chicken is good. But it probably won’t wow guests either, and that’s your goal right?! We love the idea of themed hors d’oeuvres and alcohol pairings. Tequila and mini tacos, sushi and sake? The possibilities are endless. Ditch the traditional sit-down dinner {which invariably takes two hours from start to finish and results in food coma} and let your guests mingle with whomever they like through food stations.
Once it gets to be the wee hours of the morning, after all that dancing and ehem...celebrating, guests might be in need of a late night pick-me-up. Pull up your favorite local food truck in the parking lot of your venue and let the midnight snacking begin!
3. Mix live music and DJ
It can be elegant to have your first dance as a couple to a beautiful live rendition of At Last, but sometimes guests need to let loose with a little Uptown Funk. Hire a Dj to play your favorite current tracks {or a little throwback Britney!} during band breaks and for late-night. This ensures the energy stays high all night and your guests never want to leave the dance floor!
4. Add special entertainment
Stilettos don’t allow for five hours of dancing so give your guests other entertainment options to keep them occupied {and present} at your wedding. Play up the location of your wedding with a horse drawn carriage that takes guests around the block or gallery tours for museum receptions. This gives guests a chance to appreciate your venue as much as you do.
Rather than the standard photo booth, consider video confessionals. This new trend engages guests and creates a fun keepsake in lieu of a guest book. How fun would it be to watch those videos on your anniversaries to come?
Be creative and choose something that speaks to your personality as a couple. By incorporating some of these “spicy” changes, your guests are sure to remember your day as effortlessly unique and future couples will be looking at your wedding as a source of inspiration {look out Pinterest!}.
Wedding Pinspiration: Marsala
Pantone {AKA the “world-renowned” authority on color} announced Marsala as the 2015 color of the year for everything, from fashion and furniture, to weddings. We, at Style-Architects, are obsessed with the color and have already offered our expert advice on adding Marsala into your personal style. So naturally, SA Weddings owes you brides some Pinspiration for incorporating this “it" color into your big day.
Marsala can best be described as a warmer shade of burgundy, maroon, and other deep reds mixed with brown. Its earthiness makes it versatile for weddings in any season. You can pair marsala with metallics {gold + copper} or various shades of amber and other neutrals for an elegant fall look. Marsala mixes beautifully with already popular wedding colors like blush and navy for summer weddings. A touch of greenery can brighten up and add lush accents to your florals.
If you don’t want your wedding look to be centered around Marsala, consider adding subtle hints of it throughout your decor {napkins, chargers, cake). The perfect shade for any skin tone, marsala is also a great choice for your bridesmaids and groomsmen attire.
Check out our “Marsala” Pinterest board for more ideas on how to add this hot hue to your wedding.
2015 Bridal Gown Trends
The biggest bridal fashion event of the season has come to a close, and the industry’s top designers have captivated us with their gorgeous gowns and jaw dropping styles for Fall 2015. Whether you are in the market for the perfect wedding gown, or simply curious, check out our list of the top six trends from the NY Bridal Fashion Week.
1. Crop Tops: Crop tops made their way to fashion runways a while ago, but for the first time we have seen the trend burst into the bridal fashion industry. Mira Zwillinger kept it romantic with this full skirt paired with a lace crop top with a sheer neckline.
2. Sexy Backs: Backs dipped daringly low on dozens of runways. Many designers opted to pair the risqué back with a high neck or long sleeves like Ines De Santo in this romantic lace gown with lace illusion lace sleeves.
3. Off-the-Shoulder Sleeves: This gown embodies several top trends from bridal fashion week. Beautiful beading and embroidery cover the gown from top to bottom and the bodice top with sheer sides is sexy and definitely on trend with many other designers. Pnina Tornai designed a stellar gown to showcase what’s “in” this season with a dramatic neckline to compliment the off- the- shoulder- sleeves that give a more sensual vibe to an already sexy gown.
4. Illusion Lace: This beautiful backless gown covered in illusion lace is one of many that designer Reem Acra showcased in her collection. This trend, like the sheer skirts we have been seeing everywhere, are all about giving brides the option to show skin without being too revealing.
5. Deep V-Necks: Dramatic necklines were a staple all over the runways this season and plunging V-necks were definitely a major trend with designers like Naeem Khan in this romantic flowy gown with sheer long sleeves and laser cut flowers throughout.
6. Sheer Skirts: Laser cut floral on this full sheer skirt make for a romantic and sexy gown by Gemy Malouf. Sheer fabric is not only being used on skirts this season; we saw it everywhere from cutouts around the mid-riff to necklines, and backless gowns.
Wedding Pinspiration: Aquamarine
At the Style-Architects office, blue is in heavy rotation year-round. Let’s be real, no matter age, skin tone, blonde, brunette or red head, it’s a color that flatters everyone.
This wedding season, one particular shade of blue seems to be exceptionally inspired. With fluid fabrics and a cooler tone, natural elements like your floral's greenery and wooden tables seems to go seamlessly with aquamarine, a multi-seasonal beautiful blend of blue and green.
These cool blues pair beautifully with other blues, make whites pop or create a striking statement all on their own. And while a blue bridesmaids dress is often the cool quintessential staple, we love the season’s creative plays with accessories that add depth and texture to your wedding day, such as your cake, tablescape and florals. So what do you think? Enough proof that this wedding season, cool blues are red hot?
Monthly Musing: Shear Genius
Watch the leaves change colors and embrace fall’s savory flavors in a shearling shrug-- this month’s "it" textile. The fabulous fur doesn’t need to be limited to vests, throws or your go-to Ugg boots. Embrace the coziness and warmth shearling brings by picking up some unique accessories, home décor or fashion pieces. Shearling can even be the unexpected finishing touch to a fall wedding!
Wedding Pinspiration: Metallic Luxe
Think decadent gold, sumptuous silver and a reserved bronze. Incorporating shine brings a warm romantic vibe to your wedding. But be careful, in large doses, this trend can become a mega "don't!" Pairing metallics with neutrals is the perfect way to achieve that glam vibe without being overdone. Whether you tend to stray vintage, art deco, or romantic, we suggest draping your bridesmaids or tables in shimmery foils to add that luxe feel to your special day!
Monthly Musing: Fall Knits
Thanks to fall 2014 fashion week designers, we are ready to bid adieu to the dog days of summer and cozy up to one of fall's biggest trends! The quintessential cool-weather friend was the star of many runway shows and tis the season to warm up by investing in some knit accessories, both home and fashion. Style mavens, there hasn't been a better time to throw on a chunky sweater or weaved necklace for an effortlessly {comfortable} look! For you planning a festive wedding or party to kick off the new season, we suggest incorporating some knit details to your home with some new pillows or a cableknit lamp!
There you have it, friends! From slouchy beanies to knit poufs, this fall textural trend has us ready to see the temperatures drop...who's with us?
Wedding Pinspiration: Lovely Lace
Elegant, romantic, charming and sophisticated. Lace is back and more glamorous than ever. Forget about its confines to grandmother’s tea gloves because this open-work fabric has transformed into a modern, and dare we say sexy, trend that is taking over the wedding world! Go beyond the stunning dress by adding delicate chantilly trim to your bouquet or cake for a cute dessert decoration. Whether you are a vintage, rustic or whimsical bride, adding a lace runner is the perfect way to add texture and visual interest to your tables. Go the extra mile by uniquely branding all of your paper materials such as place cards, table numbers and menu cards for that polished "wow" factor!
This traditional fabric has transformed into a modern, yet still classically romantic, trend that we absolutely love this season! Need help incorporating this ultra-femme look into your big day? Check out our list of wedding planning services–we are happy to help make your design dreams come true!
Monthly Musing: Nature's Touch
This month, we are turning to Mother Nature for some inspiration as she proves that organic and elegant can coexist. For you fashionistas, step outside your comfort zone {pun intended} and throw on a pair of these Free People clogs or sling this fur shrug on for a flawlessly fierce look. Fret not you animal lovers, there are plenty of friendly faux options out there, too! For those of you looking to spruce up your home, incorporate natural elements such as this wooden bar cart or hand-crafted wooden table or keep it bare to the bone with this faux animal head for a beautifully clean, unisex look.
Getting ready to tie the knot? This look works beautifully for those of you pining for an organic, rustic wedding. Plenty of DIY options here such as pinecone name card holders and green accents.
For more on this monthly musing, check out our Nature's Touch Pinterest board!
Bachelorette Party Must-Haves
Wedding season is in full swing which means one thing: bachelorette parties. Whether you're the bride-to-be or playing maid of honor, we've rounded up some essentials to keep you and your girlfriends prepared from the time the dancing begins until the morning-after brunch! 1. Pop, fizz, clink! Nothing kicks off a celebratory brunch, party, or vaca better than some bubbly! {try the Moët & Chandon imperial rosè, it's sure to get the bride blushing...}
2. Say cheese! Capture memories + print your pics instantly with this baby blue Fujifilm Instax Polaroid camera.
3. After a night of dancing, kick off your heels and throw on a comfy pajama set for that {final} night cap with your girls.
4. Get the dance party started with the travel-friendly, compact Jawbone Jambox.
5. Give your feet a rest with a pair of Yosi Samra fold up flats that fit perfectly inside your purse!
6. To wear or to wash? Use these Kate Spade garment bags to fashionably organize your delicates!
7. There's nothing like a good post-party juice fix to bring you back to your "A game!" We suggest trying Zula's lemon skinny!
8. A day full activities can be draining {for you and your iPhone}. Pick up a portable battery backup to chicly recharge on the go!
9. Keep your face hydrated {even after one too many vodka sodas and alarm snoozes} with Benefit's Ultra Radiance facial spray re-hydrating mist.
10. Skip the shower and sleep in an extra hour with Healthy Locks dry shampoo by One Love Organics. After all, the best hair days occur with day old hair!
Wedding Pinspiration: Summer Brights
Pinks, and oranges, and yellows! Oh my! Summer is in full-swing and the verdict is in– bold brights are here to stay!
'Tis the season to stray away from the spring pastels and take a leap of {color} faith by incorporating playful hues into your big day. That being said, there are a few guidelines we like to abide by. Get too color crazy and you might wind up with a look that's more carnival than nuptial! Try incorporating a neutral color like grey into a scheme with yellows and oranges + bright patterns to make for a fun, eclectic palette. For you forever lovers of color, we recommend adding that "something blue" into your decor– it's the color of trust and has plenty of different shades! And for you girly girls, use more sophisticated pinks like coral, raspberry and magenta rather than muted blush tones!
Now ladies, the color craze doesn't need to end at the decor. Keep it consistent by carrying it throughout the fashions of your big day. Brighten up your wedding party with colorfully-coordinated bow ties or dresses {the key is to do so in small doses}.
Monthly Musing: Pretty in Paradise
Wedding Pinspiration: Garden Romance
Hi all! Welcome to our first {of many} wedding pinspiration blog posts! If you are anything like us, your ideal evening is spent winding down with a nice glass of vino while perusing the latest trends on Pinterest. Through this series, we will call our some of our favorite wedding day "looks" with the hopes to give you that extra boost of {p}inspiration for your big day! For all you hopeless, feminine romantics our there, you're in luck!
In honor of summer, we dubbed it appropriate to feature garden romance as our first trend! Tis the season to step away from deep, rich florals and move towards a more organic, pastel color palate. For this look, we recommend keeping the linens soft and letting soft, lush florals take the cake {pun intended}! What about the ceremony? We simply can't deny Kim K's lush floral-filled backdrop that is sure to make for a picture perfect first-kiss!
Now it's time to talk fashion. Why not step away from the black tux and poufy princess gown, and go more casual? We suggest playing around with fun mens' accessories such as a colored pocket square or tie or incorporating a floral head piece for the ladies!
Remember, if you think planning your wedding all on your own is too much to handle, our weddings team has your back! Just check out our services here for a unique and customized package perfect for you!
Monthly Musing: Gingham
This season, gingham has hit the main streets and is more country chic than Daisy Duke.
For a laid back wedding, add a touch of it to your bouquets or your tablescape. With classic 20mg cialis online tailoring and simple silhouettes, this print can also be office ready or kept quirky by pairing it with an unexpected print like these bloggers. Even if the closest you''ll ever get to "country" is urban farming with your CSA, you'll look fresh as a daisy in gingham this summer! Check out more of our gingham favorites here!