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I know you’re out there! This is for all those thousands (okay, maybe dozens) of engaged couples whose love of the thinking-person’s game of chess brought you together. Maybe you met at a high-school chess club or a chess tournament.  Or did you check each other out on a dating site, where you both put “chess” in your list of passions or likes? Now that you’re going to mate for life, here are a few ideas to move you toward a chess-themed wedding–from your color scheme right down to your unique wedding favors!

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Made for Each Other!

Black-and-white weddings have always been the height of elegance, so your love of chess lends itself perfectly to a time-honored wedding palette. If you want to create some eye-popping accents, add touches of red or silver in your flowers, your centerpieces, your gown—whatever suits you.

I’m not suggesting you overwhelm your event with chess references—maybe just something in the save-the-date cards (Checkmate! He Made a Great Move! He Captured His Queen!), the reception table centerpieces and the favors. When you choose black and white for your wedding colors, you made your planning fairly simple.

There’s an abundance of white wedding gowns with touches of black, and your bridesmaids will look smashing in black dresses with black accents.  Same with the groomsmen, whose red-rose boutonnieres dazzle on those black tuxedos with white shirts.

Of course, you can really go all out and request that your guests wear formal black or white—it will make for some stunning wedding photos, but some of the guests might not be smiling, like poor Aunt Irene, who was just dying to wear her new lavender-satin pants suit. Oh, well. At least the rest of your event will be stunning. Before I show you your perfect favors, take a look at some ideas:

I promised you chess-themed wedding favors, and here they are.  The “Check Mate!” King and Queen Place Card/Photo Holders are the perfect touch for your reception tables. When guests take them home and add their favorite photos, they’ll be pleasantly reminded of your perfect match—and the winning move you made in planning your wedding!

I know, most times we share decorating tips and unique wedding favor ideas. But I came across a picture of a lovely retro net veil that was so cute, it got me to thinking.  How to brides choose the right veil for themselves?  Long, short, lace, net, poof and cathedral–there are so many styles that I wondered if there were any rules or guidelines to help with the process.  Turns out, there are!

More than just a matter of taste

According to WeddingVeil.com, outside of your personal style, there are four things you need to consider:  the dress, the length of the veil,  your face shape and body shape.

The Dress: First, consider the key focal points of your dress, and be sure that the veil accents them rather than competes or covers them. For example, if you have an embellished bust panel or a dramatic detail on the back, you can show them off with a veil that ends before your point of detail or a longer, sheer style that you can see the detailing through. Be sure that the veil does not end right where your bodice begins, for example. This will visually cut you in half. Typically, if the dress does not have much detailing, you’re free to have an elaborate veil, and vice versa.

Veil Length: From the super short to the extremely long, a variety of lengths are available.  Very short visor veils do not extend past the chin and work well with bridal gowns with high neck detail or sophisticated, eclectic style wedding gowns.  Shoulder-length veils are perfect for dresses that have bust, waist or lower back details.  Elbow-length veils are a romantic accent for ball gown dresses because they end where the fullness in the skirt begins.  If your dress doesn’t feature a train, waist-length veils are a good choice.   Probably the most versatile–and most popular length–is the fingertip-length veil, which suits the majority of dress styles.  Knee length and floor length veils are well suited to full length gowns that do not have a train.  Finally, chapel length and cathedral length veils drape onto the floor and are best partnered with full-length, classic dresses that feature a train.

Face Shape: Because the veil frames your face, the shape of your face is an important factor. Here are some suggestions.  Round face – choose a shoulder-length veil with volume on top because it will help make your face look longer and slimmer. Avoid veils with too much fullness at the sides of the face.  Square face – Look for a style that will soften your face and add length, such as a circular or cascading style with volume on top to help soften the angular nature of your jaw line.  Oval Face – This face shape is well balanced and can complement just about any veil style. Rectangle face – Choose a veil that has width around the face, but no height at the top of the head.

Body Shape: Not only is a veil flattering, but it’s also your little cover up.  Concealing the result of those extra cupcakes or the little extra gifts from Mother Nature, your veil has the ability to help correct the proportions of your body shape. If you have a large bust or stomach, wearing a long veil that extends to fingertip length or below will help elongate your upper body. Pear-shaped women tend to benefit from wearing shoulder, elbow or waist level veils because they draw attention away from the width of your hips. Full-figured women should ideally stick to one tier, narrow width veils, because they don’t add extra volume to the body.

A Few More Tips:

• At the fitting, wear your hair in a style similar to the way you plan to wear it on your wedding day.
• Attach the veil to an additional headpiece so you can remove the veil and still have some decoration at the reception.
• If you are shorter than 5′ 4″ you should select an elbow-length veil (30” long).  If you are taller than 5′ 7″ you should select a fingertip-length veil (36” long).  If you are in between these heights, you could go with either length depending on your personal preference.
• Be sure to remove your veil from the packaging well before the wedding so that you can remove any wrinkles.

I’m going to let you watch this dubious trend unfold for yourself while I visit the little girls’ room…

Okay. I’m back. There’s not a lot I can say about this twisted idea except eeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww! Is this on your list of wedding accessories? Why would a woman want to walk around her wedding reception (or anyone else’s, for that matter) with a urine-soaked diaper just so she won’t miss a moment of her special day. It certainly would be a special day (i.e. something froze over) before I’d wrap myself in a diaper unless I was medically incontinent. Follow my logic…

The wedding is over and you’re in the honeymoon suite. Lovingly, passionately, slowly, the man of your dreams undresses you for the first time as your husband, carefully removing your wedding gown, followed by those sexy, white undergarments. What are the chances he’s had experience removing an adult diaper from a woman? What would you think if you were watching with delicious anticipation as your new husband got down to his skivvies, only to discover a diaper beneath his boxers? I don’t know about you, but I’d be laughing so hard I wouldn’t be able to find my cell phone to snap a few photos. Talk about killing the mood.

I trust all my readers have enough sense to select a wedding gown that doesn’t impair her ability to relieve herself. But forever more, at every wedding we attend, we’ll all wonder–does she or doesn’t she? Only her bladder knows for sure…

Just Don’t Tell Your Groom About This!

It might not be an efficient way to pick out ALL your wedding accessories, but if you want to hear how you really look in a potential wedding gown—aside from what your Mom, sisters or  friends may tell you—here’s all you need. Simply take a digital camera when you shop for and try on gowns. Take a full-length photo of yourself in each gown and upload the photos at GoTryItOn.com. Their tag line is “Honest Advice on Your Look Before You Go Out.”

Go Try It On is a community of people who give and get unbiased opinions on clothing choices—totally free.  It’s also a great way to get feedback on your wedding gown  from your friends who may live in another city or state (or country!) Of course, the site goes far beyond wedding gowns. Maybe you’ve got a big event to attend with your fiance, and you have to look your absolute best. Load up a couple of photos of your top two outfits and, based on the comments, find out which one makes you look hotter!

Ewwwwww! Your Butt Looks Like Two Pigs Fighting Under a Blanket!

Of course, they have some rules, so people don’t bash you for being a fashion flop. Here are just a few:

• Share everything. (Well, not literally. But share your looks and opinions!)
• Play fair. (You know what this means.)
• Don’t hit people. (Don’t be mean when you can be constructive instead!)
• Put things back where you found them. (Use subjectively.)
• Clean up your own mess. (Use subjectively.)
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours. (Don’t upload photos that don’t belong to you.)
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. (If you offer someone feedback, try to be helpful, and if you are not…try to do better next time.)

This is also a great place for self-made fashionistas out there who want to help those of us who are style-challenged.  Share your know-how with the world and help make it a more beautiful place—but be nice! The purpose of this site is to build self-confidence—not tear it down! Now let’s try on that gown!

Wedding Trend Alert: Bridesmaids are Doin’ It For Themselves!

Mismatched bridesmaids dresses are nothing new. Wedding pundits have been touting this trend for several years. The bride selects the dress designer and the fabric, and she lets her bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies.

The 2010 twist? Brides are choosing the color and simply handing it over to their bridesmaids, who then have the freedom to find an off-the-rack dress from any designer, in whatever style makes them look fabulous.

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Brides are discovering that this DIY bridesmaid thing takes a bit of the pressure off them. Meanwhile, bridesmaids are delighted to know they’ll not only look good the day of, but if they choose wisely, they’ll be able to wear the dress again. It’s a win-win! If you like this idea, go for it! A word to the wise–tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be to avoid one bridesmaid in a floor-length, beaded evening gown and another in a casual, short sundress.

Take No Chances!

Don’t wait until your wedding day to let your bridesmaids surprise you with their choices. Ask  your girls to let you have a look when they’ve found a dress (or two or three) that they like, so you can make sure each dress complements your color scheme and coordinates well with all the other dresses. They’re your friends, and they won’t disappoint you. In fact, they’ll be grateful for your confidence in them as well as the liberty to choose their perfect bridesmaid dress. At the same time, you’ll probably be so thrilled with their choices that you’ll kick your bridesmaids gifts up a notch!

Just for Fun!

I thought it would be fun to show you what you might wind up with if you let your bridesmaids surprise you with their frocks on the day of your wedding. Let’s say you want your attendants in bright red…

First, let me wish you all a terrifically Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re planning a wedding, you’re already having a fabulous Valentine’s Day. WhooHooo!

As a blogger, I’m always interested in what’s happening on other blogs. I checked out the Luxury Weddings blog for the affluent bride, because they just came out with their top wedding trends and forecast for this year’s luxury weddings. While top-of-the-line wedding planning might be beyond your budget, there are certainly some elements you can easily incorporate into your plans without turning your pockets inside out. All it takes is some research and creativity.

Meanwhile, here are some 2010 wedding trends for couples whose cup runneth over with cash…

Gowns

There’s a return to “timeless romanticism” by top couture wedding gown designers this year, with collections that feature intricate lace, metallic fabrics, elaborate flower appliques, billowing ruffled tiers and all-over beaded embellishments. Also hot this year is the “daring” asymmetrical, one-shoulder necklines instead of strapless gowns.

Invitations

Sea and nature-inspired custom wedding invitations and hand-illustrated wedding invitations are big for couples planning a destination wedding. Also popular are couture wedding invitations that use luxury design elements and printing techniques like letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, Swarovski crystals, luxury embellishments, silk boxes, engraving, offset, digital and thermography (heating traditional wet ink with a powder compound to create printing that rises off the paper to simulate the refined look of engraving.)

Color Palettes

Wedding guests will see varying shades of violet, rose, blues and greens to mirror the more popular palette for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses.

Custom Wedding Cakes

Custom wedding cakes will tower to new heights. Fondant masterpieces like the one on the right will make  triple-layered cakes a thing of the past.

Eco-Friendly Weddings

A popular way to go these days regardless of budget, the upscale eco-friendly wedding eliminates elaborate table arrangements in favor of miniature fruit or ornamental trees, live topiaries and herb baskets ready for easy transplant into a garden after the wedding.

Focus on Favors

Edible favors continue to gain in popularity—personalized and delectable dark chocolates, candies and exotic fruits thank guests with something tasty and often too beautiful to eat, like “The Perfect Pear” Gourmet Brownie Pops edible wedding favor on the right.

Concern for Humanity

Here’s a trend couples in every tax bracket can incorporate into their wedding plans. It’s simply “giving back on your wedding day and paying forward to those who are desperately in need.” Donate leftover food and delicacies from your wedding reception to homeless shelters and give your floral arrangements to area hospices, nursing homes and hospitals after your celebration so they can continue to bring joy, happiness and a smile into someone’s life.

Live Event Painting

Okay. This is pretty cool. Affluent brides are commissioning artists to create a live painting on canvas of their luxury wedding event as it unfolds, providing unique entertainment for their wedding guests. Most live event artists will gladly travel to your wedding destination anywhere in the world. Prices range from $1000 to $2,500 and up, depending on timing, location and duration, plus travel expenses. Pricey, yes, but what a unique keepsake!

GetMarried.com, like many other nationally recognized wedding media, just released its 2010 wedding trends, and I thought you’d like to see them. The first thing I noticed was the move to old Hollywood glam for the groom and groomsmen along with the high-tech gadgets brides are now adding to their registries. It’s true that everything old is new again—at some point in time.

Here are the 2010 wedding trends, as observed by GetMarried.com:

1. Non-linear aisle: Brides are personalizing the procession by altering the traditional aisle with a circle or a triangular double aisle, enabling the couple to enter from multiple spots with a central meeting point. Stephanie Davis, Get Married magazine editor-in-chief and new bride, wedded lake-side on a circular dock from which she and her groom entered. “Our family no longer has two sides, so everyone sat together and, as an added bonus, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house!”



2. Comfort foods with a kick: Chef Wolfgang Puck believes that comfort foods have become more popular in the current economy. Think burgers, pizza, ribs, pot pie, and risotto — but comfort does not have to mean pedestrian. “Upgrade ingredients and prepare them with great expertise. Serve hors d’oeuvres like Kobe burgers, wild mushroom risotto, smoked salmon pizzas, slow-braised short ribs or a simple chicken pot pie with lobster,” advises Puck.
3. Gifting techie gadgetry: Registries and wedding gifts have increasingly become more high tech. Brides want electronic recipe finders, books and charging plates, and matching his-and-hers PDA cases–all examples of great gadgets for the couple as well as thank-you gifts for parents and the wedding party.
4. Texture-inspired invitations: Top bridal designer Monique Lhuillier shares inspirations and details from her various collections: “A lot of fabric details from the dresses translate into the invitations. We use techniques of embossing to mimic textures and incorporate the same colors from the gowns into the invitations.” Look for details you would see on the runway on your wedding invitations.
5. Old, new, borrowed and cobalt blue: From hints of blue in bridal fashion to saturated color throughout the wedding decor, “blues will be the most requested color in 2010,” according to Shane Murray of The Wedding Report. Bright cobalt blue is a hot hue for 2010, offering fresh, bold and atmospheric twist on the bluesy tradition.



6. Wear-again bridesmaid dresses: The urban legend of wearing a bridesmaids dress by choice after the wedding is a reality with the new silhouettes that mirror what is happening on the runway. Gorgeous and glamorous dresses with drop waists, bubble skirts and ruffles add an additional sense of style for bridesmaids to wear — and wear again.
7. Three-dimensional save-the-dates: Inform your friends and family of your wedding day with a twist. Three-dimensional elements on the save-the-dates, like a paper umbrella (signifying a destination wedding), adds character, humor and relevance.
8. Old Hollywood glam, for men!: A return to Cary Grant’s sense of style is making a comeback this year for grooms, looking charming and dapper in a white tuxedo with black-rimmed lapels. This cool old-school look brings back the sharp-looking vest and nostalgic pocket watch.
9. Blogger brides abound: Now more than ever, we’re seeing brides enjoy sharing snippets of surprises, ideas and images throughout their wedding planning experience. Personal blogs offer a space for brides to share, gather inspirations and explore.
10. Personalized plus: From the decor designs and inspirational invites to a great gifts and super-fab wedding favors, we’re observing brides’ aspiration for distinctly personalized wedding details. Designing invitations, save-the-dates and thank-you cards and adding monograms to guest books, aisle runners and gifts (like cosmetic and travel bags) offers a hint of personal bridal style.

Which trend will be part of your wedding? Let us know!

This trend is hot, but I can only describe these gowns as cool elegance. Cool, because they’re not only made from eco-friendly materials, they have detachable skirts, so you can change into something different for your reception in a matter of seconds!

The gowns are the work of up-and-coming designer Morgan Boszilkov, whose creations are “inspired by her travels in Europe and Asia and by everything in nature.” She’s commited to social and environmental responsibility and contributes 5% of her profits to organizations that support the environment.

Morgan uses a combination of silk, hemp and peace silk to make her gowns. I had never heard of peace silk until I checked out her Web site (NaturalBridals.com.) “Peace silk”, also known as “vegetarian silk” is raised and processed differently. The moths are allowed to emerge from their cocoons to live out their full life cycle. The silk is degummed and spun like other fiber, instead of being reeled. The resulting yarn is soft, fluffy, and light like a cloud.

And that’s not the only thing that makes these dresses green! Morgan has designed some of these eco-friendly gowns to be “convertible.” They have detachable bottom skirts for the bride who wants to celebrate in something different at her reception and wear it for other occasions later!

For a wedding gown that’s the talk of the town, check out Natural Bridals!

Or, I should say that winter glistens!

One of the most pervasive themes was snowflakes.  Glistening in diamonds, crystals, rhinestones and tulle, it seems that every dress had some sparkling snowflakes.  Matched with white winter wonderland makeup, it was the look of the show.  Although the white makeup and “snow cap” headpieces might be a bit much for most brides, the dresses were fabulous.  Take a peek!

So get ready for plenty of asymmetrical one-shoulder dresses, transparent layering, heavy hair accessorizing and unique cover-ups for the season’s ready-to-wear trends for 2010.  And, of course, lots of romantic tulle.  It’s the one thing that many of the dresses seemed to have in common.

Why wait until next year?

Although these runway styles won’t be available until next year, you don’t have to wait to see the hottest trends in winter wedding favors.  We’ve got a cool lineup at Favors In The City!

Toilet Paper Wedding Gowns Aren’t Just For Bridal Showers Anymore!

Now you can roll your way down the aisle in the latest designer original–a toilet paper wedding gown!  Seven clothing designers in Israel have taken the popular bridal shower game of creating a dress out of toilet paper to the next level!  Commissioned by a toilet paper company (who else?) to create these beauties for a charitable auction and to celebrate yesterday’s memorable date of 09/09/09, it’s amazing what they’ve done with this unusual “fabric”.  Who would have thought–a real wedding dress made of toilet paper.   Here are a few from the Israeli designers and some others I found online.

While the drawbacks to this designer gown are apparent and might make a bride fearful of it being torn and hoping it doesn’t rain (how do you even get the dress on and off in the first place?), there are actually some benefits.   It’s actually the perfect choice for the emotional or the practical bride!  Just think…

• You’ll always have something to wipe away your tears or dab your makeup
• After rushing to the restroom only to discover that there’s no paper, you won’t have to worry–you’re wearing it!
• No cleaning and storage fees after the wedding for your disposable dress!
• Use recycled paper, and you’ve got the most creative eco-friendly gown in town
• No one else will ever be wearing your design

No matter how you tear it, there’s plenty of ingenuity that went into these gowns. They must have had the tissue unperforated.  Because I just attended a bridal shower where we made toilet paper wedding dresses, and the tissue started separating while trying to wrap it.  Kudos to the creators for pulling it off!