When planning our special day, we tend to want everything to be in our favorite color in the world. We want our bridesmaids in that color, our flowers, our tablecloths, the invitations, the food… you see what I’m getting at. Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. When considering colors for your wedding, you might want to take a moment to consider the big picture. What will the entire affair look like to your guests? Will they see a delicately balanced bridal party with full and rich bouquets gently hinting of the gorgeous cake decorations? Or will they see a sea of too much orange, or pink, or whatever. My advice is this: If you have a color you absolutely LOVE, put it front and center on either your bridesmaids or your flowers. (Not both.) Then work around that color for the rest of your event. Table cloths can be a light contrast color, like green or blue, which will seem neutral against brightly colored floral centerpieces and napkins. Your flowers can be pale next to a bold bridal party. Whichever you choose, try to imagine yourself looking at your wedding pictures. Can you see the faces of your guests among all that color? Or do you see a symphony of love in a color palette of friendship and family?
~Melissa
On Sunday, June 27th, Pottery Barn is offering a complimentary class entitled “The Perfect Wedding Decor“. You will learn “creative ideas to add style to your wedding with unique centerpieces, place cards, favors and more….”. Participants will receive 10% off merchandise featured in the class (restrictions apply)….space is limited so call one of the local stores ASAP to reserve your spot!!!
If that wasn’t enough to spark any bride’s interests….they are also doing a “Win Your Dream Wedding Registry” sweepstakes!!! Just by creating a wedding registry at a local Pottery Barn store by July 15th, you are automatically entered for a chance to win everything on your gift registry….up to $10,000!!!
What are you waiting for??? Call a store or visit the Pottery Barn website to cash in on this amazing opportunity!
Alright you beautiful brides out there…… let’s talk wedding makeup!
So many brides are intimidated about their wedding day makeup. Whether they wear makeup on a day to day basis or not, they are still anxious about deciding between attempting to do it themselves and hiring a professional artist. There are many talented makeup artists in the Portland area, so it’s generally not hard to find a pro. However, it can be costly and some brides just don’t have room in the budget. But don’t despair….help can be just a hop, skip and a freeway ride away.
If you have never worn makeup or have no idea where to start, NO PROBLEM! Next time you are wandering around the mall, stop by the MAC counter at Nordstrom or Macy’s and have them show you a trick or two. You don’t have to purchase anything; just let them know that your wedding is coming up and that you want to try and do your own makeup. They will be super excited to help and can show you a face template, teach you different application techniques and write down all of the colors and products they used. It’s really is easy! If you want to find out more about M*A*C Cosmetics, just go to their website, www.MACCosmetics.com. You can view their new collections and get pricing information before you go for your consultation.
If doing it yourself just sounds crazy and pretty much out of the question…..ask around for referrals for local makeup artists. Your hairdresser most likely knows someone or you can do some Google searching for artists that advertise on the web. From my experience, I would definitely recommend the girls from Event Cosmetics. They specialize in bridal parties and do hair and makeup artistry all in one. They are located inside The Bridal Loft in S.E. Portland. Check them out on the web at: www.eventcosmetics.com.
Don’t let your wedding makeup get the best of you! You want to look amazing on your big day so take advantage of all the resources available to help you get there!
~Oneida
Want to do some DIY for your wedding, but not sure where to start? For things like table assignments, attendant gifts, or thank-you notes, check out Paper Source (on NW 23rd and Irving or online at www.paper-source.com ). They have lots of great products, tools, and papers to suit any style! Their papers come in many different shades, sizes, and shapes! Need some ideas or instructions? Paper Source employees are all very knowledgeable and happy to show you how to put your project together. I have been in the shop many times lately getting ideas and instructions on DIY projects for my sister’s wedding. The customer service I received was so great that I will be sure to return for all my paper-crafting needs!
Happy DIY-ing!
~Bethany
On any given day, at least half of my brides mention watching “Say Yes to the Dress” at some point during their appointment. In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with this show. I enjoy watching it myself; in fact Season 4 is currently streaming on my Instant Netflix Queue. What I dislike is the way this show sets brides up for disappointment. My biggest beef has always been that they showcase particular brides, strategically edit and clip out important parts, and radically skip days and weeks all to build up to this magical moment of saying “yes!” The reality is that not all brides have that “Aha Moment”. Every bride wants it, sure! But, ladies, ask yourselves, have you ever feel that way about a piece of clothing? Yes it is an extremely beautiful and highly symbolic piece of clothing, but it is still just a dress. If you’ve never been the type of girl to get teary and jump up and down over finding a great dress, please don’t feel disappointed if you don’t have that when choosing a wedding gown. I didn’t. I’ll be perfectly honest; I didn’t fall in love with my wedding gown. It was the style I wanted, it fit me great, and (most importantly at the time) it was well within my budget. BUT, I never looked in the mirror and thought “wow.” That’s ok…..I have no problem with that, then or now. What was most important was that I loved my groom/husband, and the dress fit with the vibe of the wedding.
Yesterday, while enjoying my “Say Yes” episode, one of the consultants finally acknowledged the fact that some girls never have the “Aha”. These poor girls search forever firmly convinced that when they put on a specific dress they’ll hear violins and the mirror will go soft & fuzzy. But, in the end the wind up frustrated and depressed when it doesn’t happen. Ladies, don’t put yourselves through that!
If you are one of those fortunate girls who put on a gown and know instantly that it is the one, that’s wonderful! I admire your certainty and confidence! If you’re not, don’t beat yourself up. For some girls, it’s a choice, a decision like all the others you’re making about your wedding. Focus more on finding a gown that makes you feel like you look your best, fits your wedding vibe and your wedding budget. The “Wow Factor” now and always will come from you smiling and happy, not from the dress you’re wearing. Don’t believe me? That’s ok, ask any bridal consultant….regardless of whether you’re shopping in Portland, Oregon, at Charlotte’s Weddings or in New York City at Kleinfelds.
~Corinne
We are all familiar with the traditional notion of a white wedding and the white wedding dress. Wearing white on your wedding day is commonly thought to symbolize a
bride’s purity and other things along those lines. But where did this notion come from? Why do many of us still feel the need to wear white when we cannot honestly say that we are “pure.”
Brides in America used to wear all kinds of colors of wedding dresses. They would even wear brown or grey but rarely white. This all changed when Queen Victoria chose to wear a white dress in her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. As news of the royal wedding spread to the states and across Europe, the elite classes felt the need to follow her lead. It became the norm to wear white as bridal magazines and books on etiquette began to tout the practice as “tradition.” No longer just a symbol of status, the white wedding gown also evoked “innocence and sexual purity.”
Modern brides are beginning to turn the tides back to a more colorful affair by adding their own bits of flair to their special gown. Brightly colored sashes and sassy shoes just might signal the beginning of a return to the colored wedding gown.
Here’s to breaking the mold!
Melissa
Planning on get married this summer but haven’t found your dream gown yet? Don’t feel stressed about buying a gown last minute! Charlotte’s has a great selection of stock pieces that can be purchased off the rack as well as a wide availability of rush options and connections to find designer stock pieces. We have a reputation for service and will accommodate any bride on any timeline. Call us to set up your personal consultation so one of our bridal consultants can help you find the gown of your dreams (even if you do only have a few months…).
~Lauren
The Setting……For the bride who wants a tranquil wedding atmosphere, a Japanese garden is the perfect place! The scenery is so beautiful and it provides an ideal setting for the romantic couple who loves the outdoors and wants to share their love in a peaceful and spiritual way. With a venue like this, you can pick up on all of the rich earth tones including the lush browns and greens. 
Your Gown…..For a Japanese Garden wedding, I would choose a simple gown that has a delicate, romantic, and effortless look. This type of setting goes perfectly with gowns from designer Paloma Blanca’s Mikaella Bridal line. Almost any gown from this collection will provide the desired effect; however, my favorite is style# 1468.
The Flowers…..Against the lush green backdrop that a Japanese garden offers, your flower arrangements are the perfect medium to add pops of more vibrant colors to complete the overall look and feel of your event. Various tones of pink and fuchsia add beautiful color accents without being overpowering.
For Your Girls…..When it comes to finding a dress that is perfect for all your best girls, it can be almost impossible to make everyone happy. A bridesmaid dress like this cocktail length crinkle chiffon from the Purely Alfred Angelo collection would look great on virtually any body type. It has straps to give added support and comfort and the empire waistline is very complimentary. Plus, it has pockets…how CUTE! The “fern” color is the perfect shade to compliment the scenery as well as create a muted backdrop for the pops of pink in the girls’ bouquets.
For the Guys…..This classically tailored tuxedo style from Jim’s Formal Wear will be a fit that your guys will love. You can go with a more muted taupe or beige color for the vest and tie; or you can blend the guys and girls together with tuxedo accessory pieces in shades of green.
I hope these ideas help inspire your creativity as you pull together the details of your Japanese garden wedding!
Happy Planning!
Vicky
Once a bride has picked up her wedding gown, the first thing they usually ask us is….”when should I start my alterations?” This is a tricky question, and a solution should be initiated by first contacting a seamstress. Charlotte’s has a list of great seamstresses in our area, and there is even one that will meet you in our shop. When you first get in touch with your seamstress, let him/her know your situation, timeline, and expectations, and they should be able to give you an approximate date to set up an appointment. Remember to set aside at least four weeks for your alterations! Also, remember to bring the shoes and undergarments you plan on wearing with your gown as they will affect the length and fit of your final alterations. Feel free to contact us with any recommendations.
~Lauren
I don’t know about all of you, but I am completely clueless when it comes to wine. I got married in 2005 and I couldn’t tell you with any certainty what type of wine was served at our reception or even how many bottles we went through. Some of you out there may be struggling with choosing the type and/or quantity of wine to serve on your big day, so here are some tips for my fellow “vino challenged” brides out there…….
Wine Tasting — Set up a wine tasting with several friends to help you select your wines. There are many great wineries in Oregon, so make a day of it! Get a party bus, designate a driver and hit the road!
Bargain Hunting — Start with the the local wine shops. Many shops will offer you excellent discounts if you purchase several cases. You can also check out online wine retailers for bargains and quantitiy discounts.
Personalized Wines — Many wine companies offer their wines printed with custom personalized wine labels. This means that your names, date and sometimes even a photograph can be the actual wedding wine label! Depending on the budget you can give gifts of these to hotel guests, wedding party members and even given as wine wedding favors.
Buying Enough — There is no magical answer to the question of how much wedding wine to buy. Everyone calculates the amount differently, but a good rule is 1/2 red and 1/2 white, although people tend to agree that more red will be drunk. One bottle serves only about 5 glasses of wine and you should plan that people will have a minimum of 2 glasses. It is always better to have more than too little wedding wine. Some shops will allow returns of unopened cases if you arrange it with them ahead of time. Otherwise you’ll have plenty of wine for months to come. Nothing wrong with that!
Tasting For The Novice — If you are a wine novice and feel intimidated by the process of selecting wines just keep one thing in mind……if you like it…you like it. If you don’t, then don’t buy it. It is common sense, but don’t let anyone talk you into a wine unless you enjoy it!
There you have it folks……go forth and taste!
Rachel
