Jan 17, 2013
We all know the famous Victorian poem “Something old, something new…”
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
and supposedly, by carrying all of these tokens down the aisle, the bride’s marriage will be happy and bestowed with good luck. The sixpence represents wealth and financial security and literally is worth about 6 cents. For optimum fortune be sure to wear it in the left shoe!
“Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family and the past. “Something new” means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
As for blue, this color has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. In Christianity the Virgin Mary is commonly dressed in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”
We love to see how each bride will interpret these tokens for her own wedding day and put her personal stamp on this old superstition.
Here are some of our fave updated examples and modern inspirations from this traditional poem!
Something Old:
Love this – the veil worn by one of our brides was also her mother’s AND worn by both of her sisters before her OR wrap a piece of lace or material from your mom/grandma’s gown around the stems of your bouquet OR wear a family gown altered just for you OR pin an heirloom brooch to your sash/dress on your hip…
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Something New:
Modern twist – the bridal bouquet! One of our brides had a custom fabric rosette bouquet created that will never wilt, lasting forever. (Great potential for Something Borrowed or Something Old in the future) OR sport jewelry given as a wedding gift on morning of your wedding from your fiance OR write your personalized vows on a scrolled manuscript tucked in your bouquet OR perhaps select a new fragrance…
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Something Borrowed:
Deep meaning – one of our brides carried her family bible used for generations down the aisle along with her bouquet OR wear a hair accessory from a family member in your hair OR perhaps incorporate a little token from each bridesmaid discreetly into your wedding attire OR borrow anything you need to complete your wedding day look…
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Something Blue:
Another fave – blue stilettos peeping out from your dress OR wear bold Sapphire jewelry Or your bridesmaids write a personal message in blue ink on the bottom of your shoe OR write on the underside of your groom’s tie (or on the inside jacket lining) a love note in blue…
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Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Oct 13, 2011
With feather hair extensions being the hottest thing on the market these days, incorporating feathers into your wedding can add a whimsical and romantic essence. But let’s think beyond the bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces…what about your hair and your bridesmaids’ hair?
“They can be brushed, blow-dried, straightened and curled (up to 450°F) – basically, they can be treated like natural hair,” says Fine Featherheads founder Dakota Hills. This versatility is crucial in the styling process of bridal hairdo’s. The feathers look gorgeous in elegant updo’s, flirty ponytails, spun into a bun and especially in a glam braid.
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Fine Featherheads are easy to find, effortless to install and could be a fabulous, fresh addition for you and your bridesmaids to celebrate in style! You can purchase the highest quality, original “featherheads” at FineFeatherheads.com or check on their website to find a salon near you. What a special way to create unity in your bridal party, by spreading the feather love…
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Are you more of a DIY type? Installation is a piece of cake. With a few simple tools (you can purchase a small tool kit online) you begin by threading the micro-link onto the hair hook. Then you simply draw a small section of hair from the scalp and slide the micro-link onto the hair. It is key to find the proper place on the head so the feathers lay flat. Viola!
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These beautiful, weightless hair accessories could be the perfect gift for a bridal party that screams personality! Since the feathers can last for one to six months (depending on care), the feathered bridesmaids have a constant reminder of the special times they shared on your wedding day.
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Aug 18, 2011
One of the best parts of being a bride? Trying on all the gorgeous, dreamy wedding gowns of course! But wedding dress shopping can also be overwhelming with all the different shapes, fabrics, and styles to choose from. Let us help – here is a little breakdown about the most popular fabrics and some of the silhouettes best for them…
Charmeuse:
Charmeuse is the lightest of all satins. It has a glossy finish that drapes and clings to the body. Charmeuse works best in an evening gown or slip dress style. If you are looking for a form fitting sexy dress then Charmeuse is the material for you!
Cotton:
Cotton is a breathable and comfortable fabric. Cotton is not commonly thought of as wedding gown material but it does create very beautiful gowns. It can be very easily manipulated so it can be in an array of dress designs.
Dupioni Silk:
Dupioni silk is thick with a slight sheen and a coarse, knobby finish. Dupioni is a natural pure silk made from double cocoons. Since Dupioni is a thicker fabric, it works best for fuller silhouettes and modified A-line dresses.
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Photos: Charmeuse: Alix & Kelly, Cotton: Chris Cole, Dupioni: Pronovias Rania
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Duchesse Satin:
Duchesse Satin is a classic wedding gown material. Duchesse Satin is more affordable than pure silk because it is blended with rayon. It has versatility because it works for full as well as straight gowns.
Lace:
Lace is a very delicate and decorative fabric. Lace is typically made from cotton or synthetic materials. Lace is commonly used in wedding gowns as an overlay on top of solid fabrics or even more lace.
Linen:
Linen is typically thought of as a more casual fabric because of its breathability. Linen dresses are common for beach weddings but can also be perfect for a Tahoe wedding. Linen can also be dressed up, depending on the cut and style, and used for more formal gowns.
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Photos: Duchesse: Jim Hjelm, Lace: Amsale, Linen: J Crew
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Silk:
Silk is the most common, cherished, and priciest wedding gown fabric. Silk is a smooth natural fiber. Silk threads are also woven in different fashions and combinations to create tons of other fabrics, such as satin, duchesse satin, charmeuse, chiffon, organza, and even tulle.
Taffeta:
Taffeta is crisp, stiff and a light-weave fabric with a slight rib. It can be made from synthetic fibers or pure silk. Taffeta is an ideal choice for ball gowns and A-lines because it adds volume without adding unnecessary weight.
Tulle:
Tulle the traditional material used for bridal veils. Tulle is a fine mesh netting that is made from silk or nylon. Tulle has become popular in bouffant skirts, Vera Wang popularized this ballerina-inspired skirt style.
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Photos: Silk: Alix & Kelly, Taffeta: Liancarlo, Tulle: Vera Wang
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There are hundreds of different wedding gown materials and combinations available. Hopefully this will help begin to simplify choosing the perfect dress for you. The best way to find the “one” is to try on as many gowns as possible!
Jun 8, 2011
We thought this new bridesmaid dress website, Weddington Way, would be a perfect follow-up to our post on floral frocks. More often than not, when planning a destination wedding, your closest gals and BFF’s are not down the street or even in the same area code. This can make selecting bridesmaids dresses more of a logistical nightmare rather than one of the fun details of the wedding.
Weddington Way is a new web site that is dedicated to bringing together brides and their bridesmaids – no matter the distance. At Weddington Way, you and your bridesmaids can connect, shop and share the perfect dresses without complicated travel and multiple dress appointments.
This shopping site is the brainchild of a former buyer of Bloomingdales who noticed a need for better online resources for brides-to-be and their bridal parties. This will simplify the way brides shop for the bridesmaid dress. Anyone, a bride (or a bridesmaid) can register on the site for free and then invite the rest of the party to join her. Your personal bridal party page allows you to custom write messages to your bridal party through out the selection process.
Shop: There’s a hand-selected collection of dresses from top designers. You can filter your search by style, theme, color, price and more.
Compare: You can mark certain dresses as your favorites and share them with your bridal party. A drag and drop feature allows you to see your potential dress lineup.
Share: You can select styles and share opinions on the shared social page between your entire bridal party.
Track: As a bride, you can see how your bridesmaids rank different dresses and track their ordering activity. This way, it’s easy to stay on top of the process with very little direct communication.
Weddington Way also allows you to virtually see a chosen bridesmaid dress in different styles. If a bride was leaning towards one color but not sure the perfect cut for everyone, then this will allow each bridesmaid to select the style that flatters her the best. Or the bridesmaids can select the dresses that they like and would compliment their curves the best, and the bride can choose which style(s) she prefers. Genius!
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May 27, 2011
Are you in love with color, lots of color?, and can’t decide on just one shade for your bridesmaid dress? With a floral bridesmaid dress you can have it all. It is fresh and playful but can also be sophisticated depending on the colors and floral design you select. Add a carefully chosen bouquet and you have created a stunning and unforgettable look for your wedding party.
The floral design is ideal for garden weddings but with the right pattern, it is equally at home at an outdoor wedding on a vast lawn or with a tropical twist, a beach wedding. Nothing seems more cheery in the summertime!
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You can even carry the floral pattern over to the groomsmen with matching ties for a coordinated, polished look.
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How to accessorize? By pairing your bridesmaid dress with a monochromatic bouquet you have a winning look. Maybe you are drawn to patterns and like the look of a black and white design while color spotting your bouquet? Subtle flowers, vibrant flowers or a retro pattern – this is where your wedding style comes into play.
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Mix it up by selecting one floral pattern yet have different dress style/cut options which allows your bridesmaids to chose the style that flatters her the most. Project Runway competitor, Jesse LeNoir, designed these one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses for his wedding in March 2010. Each dress was designed to complement each bridesmaid’s body type and personal style.
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Personally, I love this look when pulled off correctly and even selected it for my own wedding. I chose a simple silk Tommy Bahama dress with a subtle tropical pattern – after all, we were in Maui! My gals carried green cymbidium orchids with callas which were slightly smaller than my own bouquet. One of my favorite getting ready pics below.
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Our Top Picks:
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BHLDN Bubble Floral Dress
Chiffon Orange/Pink Floral Pretty Bridesmaids.com
Chiffon Floral from Pretty Bridesmaids.com
Long Version of Chiffon Pretty Bridesmaids.com
BCBGMaxAzaria - Ivory Dress with Floral Adorned Rosettes
Poppy Galore by Tommy Bahama
Anemones Dress by Tommy Bahama
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Mar 16, 2011
Dogs for many of us are our loyal companions giving us unconditional love every day and are an intrinsic part of our family. It is only natural to want to include your canine in your wedding day. It has become more and more common for dogs to be included in the wedding ceremony instead of a flower girl, ring bearer, groomsmen or bridesmaid. Or better yet, create their own role in the processional as Top Dawg!
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Not only can your dog be a memorable and personable part of the ceremony but they just look so adorable. Wedding style and color palette does not stop here either. Don’t miss another opportunity for adding detail!
Options range from color coordinating the leash and collar to adding a floral collar, a bow tie or even accessorizing with a leash made out of ribbon. Your pooch will be sure to look their best. We couldn’t resist these photos of a few our top dawgs that have graced our Merrily Wed aisles.
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Your family portrait on your wedding day wouldn’t be complete without man’s best friend, so add a spot in your wedding party for your top dawg! The memories and photos will last a lifetime…
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