Purse Party Ideas for a Bridal Shower

A bridal shower party with a fashion theme can be a fun-filled event teeming with great ideas. To begin the planning, it's a good idea to think about the style of the party whether it will be a modern or vintage-inspired one. I personally love anything vintage because it is so romantic, but you can also spice it up with cool details and bold colors. Check out your craft stores for ribbons, beads, and other fun embellishments to jazz up the decor. You can also be inspired by your favorite handbag designer or purse style to plan the decorations of the party. Here are some party ideas that you can start with:

For invitations:
Madison Park Purse Invitation - cute motif on the header



For the cake:
A French-inspired purse cake - oh, wow!



For the party supplies:
Cute pink stripe plates - pretty, pretty, ...



For the goodies:
Purse shaped cookies - yum!



For the guests:
Give'em some pretty purse favor bags

Wedding Shoes All Over Again

It's not a foot fetish. I promise. It's just that today - I had the crazy idea of wedding shoe alternatives. What are these three ideas?

Boots - these are just the right ones for a Western themed wedding



Clogs - for the offbeat bride who doesn't give a damn about what other people think. These puppies come monogrammed, too. How cute!



Converse Shoes - for the couple that is totally athletic or if you just want to be comfortable



And if you still can't get enough of a shoe fetish today, or if you are planning a shower with a shoe theme, then give a shoe as a favor. Then, you've completed the whole idea of being shoe-crazy!

An innovative way to do your wedding invitations

While browsing around colourlovers.com, the coolest site for finding color palettes, I stumbled upon another site called jewelboxing.com. Talk about me lacking focus, but it's such a unique way of sending a wedding invitation. Jewelboxing as it turns out allows you to create a cd filled with your favorite music and graphics. Plus, if you are into creating your own snazzy photos and pretty graphics, it's a pretty cool way to make a debut. I found these two examples on their website for some inspiration:

Chocolate Brown - Oh So Fall

The one thing I love about Fall is the color brown especially on a gorgeous wedding cake or cupcake. Coupled with the fact, that it's the perfect excuse for a chocoholic bride! A little "flickring" and I found these lovely pieces:

Chocolate Brown and Cream Wedding Cake


Chocolate Cupcakes


Rose cascades

What's a Polyvore?

When trying to find inspiration for your wedding, sometimes, just being to look at images without the use of text is a nice change. Polyvore allows you to create collages based on the images you find on the web. The cool factor here is that you can choose different colors and backgrounds for the collages you create. I also like the fact that these images on the collages have links to various sources on the web. Way cool and way useful for brides. Did I also mention that you can search for collages based on color palettes. I just luv that feature. It's lot of fun. Here are some of my faves:

Dahlia Wedding Flowers

It's a Dahlia day today! So, it's better to use pictures than words to explain how I love these beautiful flowers. My favorite dahlia colors are fuchsia and orange. Gorgeous as a wedding bouquet!



Video, too! After watching it, I didn't know that there were purple dahlias!

A look at some 2008 bridal gown collections

When you start to see all those Labor Day sales signs go up, it certainly shows that summer will be over soon. Sigh. But wait, who says you can't look at what's going to happen next year! I'm basically talking about what bridal gown designers are showcasing for 2008. New York Magazine's Wedding Guide to Spring 2008 Bridal Collections - featuring designs from:



Reem Acra
Check out the pink and blue wedding gown for the offbeat bride.

Monique Lhuillier
Check out slide #17:



Carolina Herrera
Check out slide #14:



Elizabeth Filmore
Oscar de la Renta

Updated blogroll

I've just updated the blogroll for other wedding bloggers. Feel free to visit these other great sites! Just look on the left-hand side for all the additions. Have fun reading! You may also want to check Delightfulblogs.com - this site lists down some pretty cool wedding blogs. And of course, you will find some familiar blog there, too. Guess?

Go Nuts with Wedding Colors

When you spend enough idle time “googling” all over the web, sometimes you really never know what can come up. I stumbled on this website at http://www.weddingbycolor.com/ - It is a blog that gives brides the chance to showcase their wedding planning. But, the difference is that these weddings are sorted by the color scheme. Pretty unique concept, I think.

When you go through the site, though, I found that there weren’t that many pages yet that had content. Perhaps it’s because it is still a new site. Nevertheless, the concept is unique. If you’re looking around for a site to feature your wedding and you happen to love color and want to showcase your wedding colors, then perhaps this might be an interesting site to check out. Right now, the main colors that are featured are red, purple, blue, orange, green, pink, yellow, and chocolate brown.




For additional colors ideas, try the following sites:

Purple - The Most Dreaded Wedding Color Gets a Makeover

Choosing a Beautiful Color Palette

Wedding Color Trends: Be Bold with Orange

Spending on your wedding

Ah, it's lunchtime and I'm learning that the stock market has once again plunged. One must wonder how dismal things seem, but surely things should get better. But, let's focus on now. I mean right now. If you have just gotten engaged, you are probably thinking about ten million things. What dress do I get? What cake do I want? Where and when will be the big day? Yes, these are very valid questions, but much of it resides in how much one can actually pay for a wedding. How much can one afford at a time when the economy and much of America is languishing in homes they can't sell?

When you think about your dream wedding, there are some people who just scoff at the idea of spending so much, while there are others who are hypocritical about spending so much only to be spending that much, and then there are others who are just plain honest about how much they can spend and then set realistic options about planning their big day. Whichever camp you belong to, these three articles provide some insightful ways to approach the spending on your wedding:

• A celebrity-style wedding on a budget
• The $28,000 question: Why are we all hypocrites about weddings?
• With This Ringing Cash Register, I Thee Wed

A Cake Conundrum on Kaboodle

I did a little hunting on Kaboodle and came across this poll for choosing a cake:

Get Your Own! See Comments

Btw, be forewarned. Kaboodle is addictive!

Go Wild with a Vegas Themed Groom's Cake

I've always found that coming with a theme for a groom's cake is one of the most fun parts of planning a wedding. It's a chance to be wacky and whimsical. Since it seems like Vegas themes have been extremely popular lately, it would be only natural to find inspiration for a poker-themed groom's cake.


I found two very cool ones below:

via Pink Cake Box - be sure to check out her cake blog!


via Sugar



There are other themes that you can incorporate if you don't want to look like a complete high-roller. How about using a giant-sized rolling dice, a skyline of Vegas, a slot machine, or the welcome sign to vegas? A big giant gold coin cake would also make a statement. Hmm. Perhaps too much of a statement, but I think it would certainly top the whimsical list.

Burn that Dress - Would You?

Burn your bra! No, burn or trash your dress! I read this article while surfing at lunch. It struck me that this is going on at a time when your dress is as sacred as can be. But, I guess it is not for some free spirited brides longing to break free. Hmm, break free from what? That's what I wonder about. Nevertheless, you've got TrashtheDress.com, a Web site created by Louisiana photographer Mark Eric. Feeling as surprised as I am, read the article called Wedding Trashers. Any thoughts?

Today Throws a Wedding

Martha Stewart together with the Today Show will be giving one couple a wedding on October 5 called "Today Throws a Wedding".

See details below:

Bridal Insanities Revisited

Anyone who has ever planned a wedding should probably know by now how truly stressful planning a wedding can be. It's a time when sanity becomes a sacred word. Let's visit some examples, I'm sure you know what I am talking about:

1) Getting your table linens to match with that right color shade. For instance, the colors aqua, red, and pink are examples of colors, which seemingly possess their own personality. If only colors could match the first time you try!

2) Tasting butter cream, fondant, and royal icing from 5 different bakers. If only the wedding cake could taste just the way you want it.

3) Making sure your bridesmaids can fit into their dresses that you had ordered 6 months ago.

4) Ensuring that the groomsmen don't do something entirely crazy during the wedding. And more importantly, making sure the bestman doesn't forget his speech.

5) Pleasing your future in-laws or anyone involved with the planning. Some brides often have their future mother-in-laws take care of a lot of details, so finding the right balance is very difficult. She suggests pink, but you want fuchsia.

6) Finding the right shade of ivory to match that dress you've chosen. There aren't too many places that carry ivory, since white is more popular.

7) Driving around town to all your different vendors. Perhaps getting a planner might be a good thing.

8) Getting the flower girls and ringbearers to behave. Hopefully, no fights will break out during the wedding.

9) Tasting the wines for the wedding reception. Choosing the wrong wine can speak millions about your taste.

10) Keeping everything organized such as business cards, website links, etc.

It's Also About the Groom - Tux Talk

Bridal fashions have always focused on the bride. Why shouldn't it anyways? But, sometimes, let's give the groom some attention even if it's a just brief moment. As always, finding a nice directory with all the fixings is a perfect place to start looking. Check out New York Wedding Guide's List of Men's Formalwear Stores. Another good place to check styles is at Men's Wearhouse. And if the question of whether to rent or buy comes up, just think of it this way. Would you be wearing that tux more than once? If the answer is "yes", it's a buy. But, if you can't afford to buy it, then perhaps you can think of it as an investment in your formal attire. While not everyone would agree considering how expensive a tux can get, if you absolutetly have to rent one, then let it be only as a last resort. Think of the tux as a lavish gift and it won't be so bad. Take this gorgeous tux from Ermenegildo Zegna:

Inspirational Highlights from Eva Longoria's Wedding

We all heard about the spectacular wedding of Eva Longoria in Paris on July 7th. What did I find most interesting about their wedding? Here are seven inspirational highlights for anyone planning a wedding bonanza:

1) The Bouquet
A bouquet of white phalaenopsis orchid stems and lillies.

2) The Ring
Piaget Possession wedding band rings. For her, an 18K white gold with featuring two rows of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds, separated by a row of 27 square-cut diamonds-a total of 107 jewels. For him, an 18K white gold Possession band. Read more >>
See the website: Piaget

3) The Wedding Dress
A mermaid-styled gown with stunning silver metallic embroidery by Angel Sanchez. The back of the gown was the show-stopper with a scoop-back style. It was off-white and had a 10-foot-long cathedral train. Read more >>
See his collection at Wedding Style Magazine by Grace Ormond

4) The Cake
A French wedding cake, of course! It was a vanilla bean pound wedding cake with raspberry filling with each of its five tiers embellished with sugar flowers. Read more >>

5) The Church Ceremony
Church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois located across from the Louvre Museum. If you're in Paris, it's located 2, Place du Louvre, Paris 75001.

6) The Wedding Reception
Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, an awesome 17th-century castle located in Maincy - about 30 miles southeast of Paris. It's about a 30 minute train ride.
See the website of Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte for tour information

7) Gifts for Guests
As an ultra luxurious gift for guests, each female guest received a Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra bracelet. Based on the iconic Alhambra design, the bracelets come in 18K yellow gold with a miniature mother-of-pearl clover charm. If you're as rich as Eva, there would be no need for a favor budget, here. However, it is certainly inspiring to be able to give something nice to guests!
See the website of Van Cleef & Arpels

Target Wedding Gowns

Target, once gain, has come up with an affordable line of wedding gowns designed by Isaac Mizrahi. Prices start at about $89.99 and are only available on-line.



My favorite is the Tulle Princess Dress $159.99



While you may find many of the styles on the plainer side without the fancy lace and complex embroidery and beading of more sophisticated gowns, they are affordable for brides that are on a tight budget. Using accessories such as lovely shawl or wrap, or even jewelry can help a great deal to spruce up your overall look. I found this interesting and practical article from Bellenza! Go here for How to Select a Perfect Bridal Gown For a Summer Wedding.

More than a Cookbook - A Great Wedding Gift

What do fires and weddings have in common? Nothing, of course, but if you want to give a gift with a super good cause, the "Los Angeles Firefighters Family Cookbook" is a wonderful wedding gift. With all the brush fires going on this summer, fire fighters are working harder than ever and risking their lives at the same. 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of a cookbook also goes to benefit the widows, orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund.

Give the bridal party pillows to keep

Let's get some pillow talk! No, not just ordinary and definitely not just a pillow. These are handmade lavender pillows from "Pillows for the People." Colorful and teeming with artistic personality, Parisa has produced these super cool and creative pillows. Just the perfect accessory to keep in your pad, loft, or study. With the light scent of lavender, these pillows speak to you without the added hype - pure joy and beauty. The look is vintage and deco with a personal flair. It's a great gift for that artsy bridal attendant who just won't settle for jewelry or cuff links.

Check out some favorites:

Frida and Flags - for the Maid of Honor



Deco Elvis - for the Groomsman with an Elvis thing



Paper Cranes - for the Mother of the Bride

A Search for Wedding Ideas

When searching for ideas, the web certainly presents us with no shortage of ideas. But, how many of these ideas are really practical? How many really come close to what you are looking for when trying to get an idea for a centerpiece that you want to have at a wedding shower, or a favor idea that is original yet simple to do. Enter the webzine of the Wedding Bistro at Bellenza. What will you find there? To name a couple of things: you can find DIY ideas for that centerpiece project you've been wanting to make for a party, you can also get color ideas, and table decor and favor photos. I also like the colorful pictures being that I'm such a visually-oriented person.

A Wedding in a Funeral Place?

Ever plan a wedding only to realize or discover that the venue for your wedding is also a place for funerals. Yes - this is happening in places around America as people live longer and funeral homes are resorting to creative ways of brining in revenue. Some people may simply refuse to admit that this can't possibly be true, but many mortuaries are coming with expanded services such as catered meals, reception hall rentals, and are even offering entertainment such as multimedia. Sound like something morbidly creative from a business perspective, but then again, that's being entrepreneurial. In the end, would you mind having a wedding in a funeral home or would you rather go to Vegas and get it done with cheaply?

Interested in the articles? Go here:

A Wedding at a Funeral Home?

Four Weddings And A Funeral

Holding a wedding at a funeral home?

Photo Books - Create Them with Viovio

My coffee table is usually filled with the usual clutter of magazines - be it a bridal, fashion, or lifestyle mag. But, how often does something come along that is so cool and attractive, that you just gotta have it displayed on your coffee table. Yes, there are photo albums, but how about your own photo book - like those you see in the bookstores. With a hardbound cover, glossy pages, and fantastic pics of you, Viovio allows you to do this with great ease and economy.



They also offer bulk discounts. The prices aren't bad at all. For instance: 20 page perfect bound book: $4.99 + (20 * $.25) = $9.99. It takes about 14 business days for the hard cover books to be produced. What is most unique about their product and service is that you can even sell your own photo book on their website. Perhaps it's time to be a budding photographer after all. Looking for a fab wedding gift that is radically different, then give the bride and groom a gift certificate from Viovio.

CD Invitations are here to stay

Step aside paper, multimedia is here to stay. In the manner of speaking, at least for weddings! The digital age is definitely making it more creative when it comes to creating invitations - you know, those paper ones, that you used to get. But now, Cd Invites has come up with an innovative way to send out your wedding invitations. You can customize your CD invitation in basically 3 easy steps:

1) You choose the design - they also have designs for other special events

2) You choose the package to present the cd - a tin (square or round), round case, or jewel case

3) You customize it with your images - they create a proof, you approve, and it's done



Each cd pacakge includes:

1. Customized slide show with 20 images
2. Cd Design with your custom info.
3. Printed customized matching invite card
4. Email RSVP link
5. CD Casing (Jewel Case or Tin Case)

They are also having a contest for a chance to win 100 free cd invitations, check it out:

http://www.cdinvites.com/special.htm

For pricing info, check out:
http://www.cdinvites.com/prices.htm

That's pretty much all you need to do besides making sure it gets out in the mail.

Wedding Veils

Veils – the long and short of it. They are short ones called “visor veils” like those you see in old 50s movies, or long ones like those Princess Di had for her wedding. Whether it’s a simple short veil made of tulle, or a free flowing one made of organza fabric, the veil is a timeless symbol of tying the knot. Matching you’re the veil with your gown can be a bit tricky – particularly if the gown is an elaborate one. For some brides, doing without a veil is okay, while there are those who swear that they won’t get married without wearing one as they walk down the aisle. I belong to the latter and have some pretty nice ones on the web:

Via Veiled Expressions (this veil has little diamante gems sewn on the fabric)



Via Erica Koesler (this is a romantic mantilla veil)



Via Illusions Bridal Veils (this is visor veil with pearl accents – so classy and romantic)



This is my all-time favorite - Princess Amidala’s wedding veil via Padawans Guide.com. Be sure to check out the FIDM exhibit photos of the wedding gown. May the force be with you!

What does a wedding guest give? Just what?

For everybody who will be attending a wedding, it seems like finding a gift is now harder than ever. So, with that said, it is time to go “practical” especially at a time when gas prices seem to be going through the roof and buying things for the home, nice things, is always tough. My favorite finds all under $100 bucks are:

3 tier serving stand (via Wrapables)– it’s a sleek glass stand



A man holding wine stand (via Uncommongoods) – it’s chic metal holder



Serving tray in a retro design (via Martinitart)– it’s cool and hip

Mother of the Bride Dresses

For Mother's Day, why not show mom what are some nice outfits to wear at a wedding. These 3 ones from Nordstrom's are pretty elegant and most of all, quite reasonable.

Style #1 - For the mom that wants a champagne dress - ideal pretty much for any season of the year

A two-piece ensemble with a V-neck and jacket



Style #2 - For the mom that wants an aqua dress and doesn't fear showing her curves - great for summer

A form-fitting dress in crinkled taffeta with a jacket



Style #3 - For the mom that wants a brown dress in the fall

A faux wrap jacket with an iridescent organza skirt - A line

Calling all Moms (of the Groom)

Happy Mother's Day! And for all mothers who are the "mother of the groom", USA Today wants to hear your stories and experiences.

Chocolate fondant wedding cakes

Chocolate – the color is making its way as the cool color for wedding cakes. When I saw the chocolate fondant cake by Elisa Strauss on Foodtv, I must say that I was hooked. It is when you pair chocolate brown with a color like peach, apple green, turquoise, purple, and magenta, that the color truly comes out. It is pretty much something that you either like or don’t like probably because it is too dark for some, while other brides just gotta have it. I guess it’s because it may seem a bit too “masculine” – like something you’d reserve for the groom’s cake. But, surprisingly, it is quite remarkable of a color for a wedding cake. I’m just wondering right now as to how many of you out there would want this type of cake, since it isn't for everyone. Still unsure? Check out these sites for some fab ideas:

Chocolate brown with green



Chocolate brown with retro blue



Mini wedding cakes with gold dragées

Cookies - Those Damn Wedding Cake Cookies

Have you ever wondered how do they make those wedding cake cookies? How do they make them look so cute as favors? How does the icing stay so pretty? Here it is: check out the video of Sandra Lee! Have fun! I also found the recipe - check the link. God, I'm giddy!

A Letter to Would-be Brides

Every once in a while, I come across something on the web that is worth sharing with the little readers that do come by Dahlia's Day. Here it is: guy majoing English Education from University of Central Missouri writes an open letter to would-be brides. Check it out at his vox blog. Sound interesting?

Are you ready for the plunge?

There is always talk about weddings all over the web, but today will be different. I’ve decided to talk about the “what-if” of a wedding. What if – what if, you have decided to cancel the whole thing? Yes, the whole wedding on the day itself – like an hour before it and you decide that you’re not sure. Not sure that you want to walk down the aisle with “Johnny” because you have doubts. Some call it wedding “nerves” because they say that you just get nervous. However, you’re nervous not because you will be seen by all your friends and family, and of his friends and family. You’re nervous because it hits you that maybe you are just not ready to take that plunge. It scares you to think that somebody close to you like your best friend will have to break the news to everyone that the bride has decided to call it quits. Just what the heck do you do at this point? Hmm. Crash yourself into the cake and pretend like it was an accident so you can “postpone” the wedding. Or, stage your own kidnapping like that “runaway bride” – not recommended plus its illegal, so that is out of the question. Okay, so what do you do? The best thing to do at this point is to be honest. Sometimes being honest is the only thing you can do because getting married when you are simply not ready isn’t going to be a happy marriage down the line. So, how do you prevent this from happening to you? The answer really varies, but a couple of sites below might help:

Twenty Questions to Ask Before You Get Married

Are You Ready To Get Married?

Proposals: Are You Ready for Married Life?

Got any suggestions? Has this ever happened to you? Do you anyone who has canceled their wedding?

When to Set a Wedding Date - Time Matters

Knowing when to get married can actually be more difficult than deciding where to tie the knot. Why? For a number of reasons, you see, depending on which side of the country you live in, deciding on when to set the date of your wedding has much to do with the weather conditions and season.

When you start looking for possible dates, a random date somewhere during the Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter time would be one approach, but at many times, the time of when you set your ceremony and reception can have a great impact on how much you will have to spend for the wedding. Now, if you have absolutely no problem with bankrolling your wedding, then setting any date is virtually possible. But if you don't have this luxury, a wedding on a Friday versus that of a Saturday or even Sunday can vary great in price relative to such things as: cost of renting a facility, the cost of food and drinks, and the cost of lodging to name just a few.

Think about it now. If you are planning a summer wedding with a lot of out-of-towners, then you will definitely have to think about the additional cost of transportation and other logistics. So, if you are going to have a wedding on a Friday with a noontime or dinner reception, you could end up saving more money than the same wedding that is held on a Saturday night. Incidentally, a Saturday night during the summer season is considered to be the most popular chosen time and day for a wedding, therefore, one of the most expensive times to get married. However, it is also the ideal time for many people to attend a wedding for obvious reasons. Perhaps you could think of it as having some sort of ROI for you wedding like if you are going to be getting some “money” gifts, but that’s beside the point. You know what I’m talkin’ about here. Don’t need to elaborate on this when getting a toaster worth $50 bucks is probably more useful in currency terms nowadays than the actual thing.

In conclusion, if you are still deciding on a date then just realize that it pays to know when and what time is best for the wedding because it could save you money to spend on other things that you'd rather splurge on like your dress. Cake, anyone?

A Wedding Map

In the world of mapping a wedding, before online maps became available, there was the cumbersome map. One that was often the size of a newspaper and you had to layout it all out on a table to find anything. You also had to make photo copies and create snippets of the wedding location, reception, including hotels, and other significant details. That was then, but now you've got the web and you the emergence of sophisticated online mapping tools. Take the website of www.weddingmapper.com, after trying out this service, I must say that it doesn't get any easier than this. Simply enter the address of the ceremony and reception of your wedding, and a great little map is generated for you. If you haven't found any place yet, it also offers suggestions on places that are within your chosen vicinity. You can also include the hotel location, the airport, as well as the restaurant address of the wedding, and a a great big map is produced that provides directions to each destination. The nice thing about this tool is that you can also personalize it by entering other details such as photos, your wedding gift registry, your own wedding website address, and then send this off in an email to your guests. If you have a website, you can also send link to your map from the website. Sending a map with your invitations, they've got that covered, too. How much better can this get? Wanna see more? Follow this link .



Incidentally, last night, I found that Google started offering a service that allows you personalize maps on Google Maps. You may also want to check it out. Follow this link.

When searching for potential wedding venues, an online mapping tool is a great help!

A Free Wedding

Are you going to be the new Mr. And Mrs. of 2007? This is the year that you’ve been waiting for. You’re in luck because there is an upcoming wedding show that will be offering a free wedding at the show. This is a show of shows in the wedding scene and has taken years of careful planning. Award-winning vendors and suppliers from all over the country also plan to give away a variety of goods. A honeymoon will be given away as well wherein it will be 8 night stay and 7 day vacation on an exotic Caribbean location. A church officiant will also be available at the wedding show and will be issuing free wedding lectures. Cake sampling will be available, since cake vendors have decided to give free samples of their wedding cake creations. Grooms can also take part in the show this year because there will be a cake dive catered for grooms unlike the usual cake dive, this one aims to be different. Grooms will be diving in for a garter toss and the price is a real toss. A fashion show featuring the season’s hottest wedding styles also leaves much to be anticipated. Models are said to be donning non-traditional gown colors in bold bursting colors of persimmon, jade, and turquoise. As for bridesmaids’ fashion, the new theme of the season centers on ‘your own, your way.’ Excited yet? It gets even better as the giveaways at this show seem to be endless. A giftware company at the show will be offering ‘absolutely free’ favors to those attending the show for the first time. As a way of showing their appreciation to all brides, insiders say that all of the companies at the show plan to focus their attention on the needs of today’s brides, and therefore, profit and cost will take a secondary role in order to make this show a true success.

To find out more information, click on the link below:

Show for a free wedding