Oh my, Ladies, oh my. 



First Disney, and now Target Weddings?  Apparently these gowns (and everything else including shoes, purses, bridesmaids dresses, and cummerbunds and ties for the males) are being priced at a whoppingly low price . . . below $160.  I believe a lot of you ladies may scoff, as we paid much more than this for a mere fitting of our gowns.  Sometimes, yes, Mr. Mizrahi does provide us with the cheaper fun everyday clothing at Target, but I also feel that this brand of bargain shopping is not the attitude we wish to take when choosing our wedding gowns. 

If you can't help but wonder about them, though, they premiere on the Target website only, on May 1.  Just think . . . all at the same time you could order a wedding gown, your Method cleaning supplies, and the household paper products.  Do we really want "wedding gown" to be synonymous with "convenience"?

Hmmm.  Disney is teaming with Kirstie Kelly to provide fans-from-childhood with the total Disney wedding experience.  Not only can you get married in the park, or ride in Cinderella's carriage, but you can now wear a character-inspired gown as well.

At first I was hesitant, but now that I see that the gowns aren't the character imitations (I had visions of bright technicolor red and yellow, pink and purple and blue combos streaming down the aisles), I suppose these aren't so horrid.  Pictured is the Belle gown.

If nothing else, at least Disney is capitalizing on every aspect of their proffered Fairy Tale Weddings.  And the price point -- cheaper than a Reem or the like in the $1,100 to $2,900 range -- is guaranteed to snap up the segment of brides who want better than David's yet not higher couture. 

The gowns are featured on their website, Disney Bridal.

Lo and Behold!!  After what has seemed an eternity, Kenneth Pool has finally come out with a new selection of dresses, AND a new series of ads in the bridal mags.  Rejoice!

I am liking this little regal gown from Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2006 collection. 

Is it the extended shoulder-grazing straps?

I do approve of the bodice wrap. 

The telltale Monique Lhuillier sash around the waist?  One must keep one's trademark.

Technically, it's not neccessarily anything we haven't seen before, but it's still stunning.

A few theme scenarios for your wedding:

1.)  "We'll always have Paris". 

2.)  The Deborah Kerr/Cary Grant classic "An Affair to Remember".

3.)  The Bride and Groom are staunch political figures/activists/partiers. 

Won't you be delighted to use the Doodles Destinations monuments as your centerpieces!  In addition to the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State building, and the White House (for the above scenarios), several other symbolic monuments are available for the choosing. 

Or perhaps you'd rather just have them all, and go for an "around the world" theme . . .

For purchase at The Home Port.

We have all, at one time, been enamoured by those paper flower kits by Paper Source.  Perhaps it's something to do with an overwhelming childhood memory of those tissue paper flowers made in Spanish class which were bigger than our heads . . .

Yet, for those of us who either cannot master producing anything except a pile of wrinkled papers, or for those who would like a more upscale impression, June Miller Flowers is our saving grace. 

The name of the site may be "The Bride Wore Blue" . . . however, this stunning green Lily of the Valley gown by Carolina Herrera is so eye-catching that we deem it permissible to stray from the blue.

One can never go wrong with Carolina Herrera.

To compensate for my rather long hiatus lately, I'm posting  the "Lesotho One" diamond from Harry Winston.

Certainly a diamond ring for either 1) someone who is very good, 2) someone who is very rich, or 3) someone who is owed quite a large apology.

Is there a point where the sparkly is TOO large?  One has to wonder how "normal" functioning would be affected.  Granted, one who wears this most likely does not perform the normal everyday drudgery such as laundry, dishes, cleaning . . . but even dressing or grooming could provoke interference! 

(Not that this would be a reason to refuse such a gem . . . )

If you are the fashionably discerning bride who knows true quality letterpress invitations when she sees them . . .

Then you must see the works of art that Plume Press creates!  I received their sample packet in the mail this morning and have been fawning over it all day.

The Plume invitations are all exquisitely detailed designs.  Royalty meets Moulin Rouge.  Letterpressed tendrils mingle with broad regal calligraphic swoops.  Delectably delicate and demure but THE showstopper invite that no one else in your circle will be able to top!

Plume Press offers both retail packages and custom designs.  

Ms. Rachel Cary, the Creative Director for Plume Press, is a delight to work with and I highly recommend contacting her.

Samples are available to order on the Plume Press website.  You must visit!  Now!

Now for a completely different variety of china pattern. 

Versace's "Hot Flowers" pattern by Rosenthal will definitely give your table a burst of personality.  Busy?  Yes . . .  Perhaps a bit much?  Sure . . .

But definitely fun!

Even Bed Bath & Beyond is carrying the pattern. 

     


For the bride whose wedding can only be described as "royal family", now your cake has a crown to go along with the occasion! 

This caketopper is called "Sleeping Beauty", and is part of the cake jewelry made by PARIS.  No, not as in Hilton, but you probably know of the beautiful PARIS tiaras already.  Isn't it just the perfect crowning glory for your cake?

This festive rehearsal dinner invite was only part of a set that Elizabeth Hubbell Studio designed for a wedding.  The coordinated favor tags, menus, all of it, are featured on the site. 

Refined and elegant simplicity is the focus of Elizabeth Hubbell Studio, and once you view her website, I think you'll agree.

I find St. Pucchi gowns to be fantabulous in their dramatic presentations.

This, ladies, is a REAL corset gown. 

Don't you find this bouquet an attention-grabber, due to the depth of the darker colors?

Petite Fleur Floral Atelier, based in both California and Florida, has a very small gallery online, but if you live near either of their locations you should probably schedule a consultation.  The twelve bouquets featured are all stunning!

I'm willing to wager that these perky animated designs from LovinSullivanCakes make your heart pitter-patter a little faster, too.

Kate Sullivan's sweet inspired designs are so impeccably detailed and frame-worthy . . . I have to wonder how many brides have trouble cutting their LovinSullivan Cake!

Did you notice the ball and chain that the two lovebirds are sporting inside their white picket fence (top)?  Humor AND a sweet, almost Japanese-animation quality! 

This sparkly should tide you over for the weekend, ladies!

From Harry Winston.

After all of the previous formal china posts, I am taking a different direction with this Haviland pattern. 

"Floralies" is so delicate in this feminine, floral fashion.  I could imagine that if one's husband-to-be paid much attention, he might put up a bit of an argument over this choice. 

But those of you with inattentive husbands, congratulations!

Available for special order at Fortunoff.

I kept the picture of this gown by Xiomara Grossett Couture so large simply because such a beauty deserves our full attention to it's details. 

I think my favorite part of this gown is that it has it's own veiling.  Very similar to, say, a Reem Acra veil, except this veil is fully part of the gown.  The ethereal line created by the empirical waist is bound to be very flattering as well. 

All together now, sigh.

Sadly, Pixy is not a floral specialist.  She knows nothing more than "those are pretty" and "my, those smell really good". 

That said, do you know what I think of the wedding florals displayed on Annie Siu's website? 

"Those are pretty!  I bet they'd smell really good too!"

All jokes aside, don't you feel drawn in to this bouquet, made more dimensional by the depth of the bi-colored roses? 

Ms. Siu features both flowers and real estate on her website.  So I suppose we could say she's just as bi-dimensional as her bouquet . . .

This invite from April Studio certainly pops out of the envelope.  For couples who would rather go bright and lively than the whites and pastels, April Studio  may be your place!

The site features plenty of interesting color combinations, and colors, fonts, and graphics are all customizable.