Fall is upon us! And this fall our trendiest colors are surprisingly very bright, which is so exciting especially when it comes to shopping cocktail dresses for all of the wedding events you have on your calendar. Whether it be a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, bachelorette party, or friend’s wedding, dresses in the fashion industry’s official trend colors will make for some of the cutest little numbers you have ever added to your closet! Lets take a look at the latest colors that should be on your radar!

Endive and Golden Glow

Both Endive and Golden Glow can be tough colors to wear on most women so it is best to pick these up in a pattern just like on this Milly “Simone Sleeve” Dress. This little satin number would be perfect for a fall to winter shower. Pair it with a bare leg for early fall or a pair of black tights and a blazer for chillier weather. These colors would also be great to accessorize with. They would certainly pop against a chocolate brown whether you wear them in a clutch or a pair of heals as well.

Milly Simone Sleeve Dress: $395.00 at Shopbop.com

Living Coral and Lipstick Red

Now these are certainly two colors that you all women can wear. Both coral and red dresses are fantastic statement colors that are phenomenal when found in bold dresses! This DVF number could be worn to any fall wedding event. It is both classy, slightly conservative, but also right on trend for fall. Hemlines are starting to drop so our micro mini dresses and skirts aren’t going to be the only style to rock through the colder months. And lets face it, that will make both your mom and grandmother thrilled

Diane von Furstenberg Marchona Dress: $325.00 on Shopbop.com

Purple Orchid and Chocolate Truffle

Purple tones look amazing on any woman and both of these colors would be stunning in a cocktail dress, but I also love these colors for accessories. A pump like this Calvin Klein pump, can really spice up a black or gray dress for wedding events. It is also a very practical addition to your fall wardrobe this year as it can take you from day to night.

Calvin Klein Scarlet Platform Pump: $109.95 at Nordstrom.com

Lagoon

Lagoon definitely feels like a warm weather color so taking it into fall can be tricky. I love what BCBG has done with their contrasting black and patterned dresses. This BCBG number incorporates the ever-so vibrant lagoon color in the patterned half of the dress while toning it all down with a black body. Though this number may be a little too loud and edgy for most of your wedding events, it is actually perfect for a bachelorette party where the goal as a bride is to stand out. Wear it later in the season by throwing a blazer over it for a more conservative event.

BCBG Print Block Bustier Dress: $178 at bcbg.com

Woodbine

We are seeing military inspired colors such a woodbine a lot this year based on the rise in the military trend in women’s fashion. Though a military style does not seem appropriate for wedding event wear, I was able to fine this J Crew frock in this color palette, which would be fantastic for an early fall wedding attendee. In addition to incorporating fall colors is also displays the Ikat pattern which has come back into fashion with a vengeance. We saw Ikat everywhere this summer and appears to have staying power through fall.

Oyster Gray and Rose Dust

I can’t even think of more appropriate colors for a bride to wear to any and all of her pre wedding events this fall. While most of your guests will be dusting off their dark colored dresses, you will stand out in these innocent and chic colors, just as any bride should. I adore this Milly dress as a stand out option for any bride for a pre wedding event.

Milly Strapless Rose Dress: $695.00 at shopbop.com

There’s a reason every element of this Real Wedding qualifies as eye candy — sweetness is the theme!

Washington photographer Leah Stern‘s mantra is “celebrate. radiate. fascinate.” We think her shots of Katie and Steve’s elegant summer wedding surpass all three objectives!

“Katie is an elementary school art teacher who loves lots of vibrant color and laughs constantly,” Leah says. “Steve is always right there with her and is just about the nicest guy you will ever meet – he always has a silly joke and a big smile.”

In keeping with their fun and fancy-free personalities, the theme of Katie & Steve’s wedding was “love, sweet love.”

Stylistically, this vision was realized through a black and white color palate accented with bursts of bright pink. From the decor to the wedding party attire, this twist on a classic color combination added whimsy and, well, sweetness. At the reception, a tier of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes (with pink frosting, of course) stole the show, while a candy bar offered take-home treats.

For more images of Leah’s work, check out the Studio Juno website and blog.

Leah Stern leah@studiojuno.com 703.300.4151

For Part 1, click here.

For Part 2, click here.

Happy Friday all. As promised, here is the last and final segment on tips to

source: http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/

surviving your first year of marriage. As mentioned before, the three tips I’ve presented are by no means an exhaustive list of ideas. I would encourage you to add to these points and perhaps create your own list of points. And by all means, don’t keep them to yourselves because I for sure could use them! My husband and I are in our 3 month of marriage and it is by no means a walk in the park. Any suggestions that you might have towards surviving the first year of marriage, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

Alright, on with the regularly scheduled program…

3. Learn To Adapt To Your New Roles

What is the challenge? A husband may at first exercise his headship clumsily, or a wife may be unaccustomed to making tactful suggestions. For example, Antonio, a husband in Italy, says: “My father hardly ever consulted my mother about family decisions. So at first, I ruled my family as if I were a monarch.” Debbie, a wife in Canada, says: “I demanded that my husband be tidier. But my bossy approach only seemed to make him more stubborn.”

What is the solution for a husband? Some husbands confuse what the Bible says about wifely subjection with what it says about the obedience of a child to his parent. (Colossians 3:20; 1 Peter 3:1) However, the Bible says that a husband is to “stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh”; it does not say the same about a parent and child. (Matthew 19:5) Jehovah describes a wife as a complement, or counterpart, of her husband. (Genesis 2:18) He never refers to a child as being a complement, or counterpart, of a parent. What do you think – if a husband treats his wife like a child, is he honoring the marriage arrangement?

In fact, God’s Word urges you to treat your wife in the same manner that Jesus treats the Christian congregation. You can make it easier for your wife to view you as her head if (1) you do not expect her immediately and flawlessly to express her subjection to you and (2) you love her as you do your own body, even when difficulties arise. – Ephesians 5:25-29

What is the solution for a wife? Acknowledge that your husband is now your God-appointed head. (1 Corinthians 11:3) If you honor your husband, you honor God. If you reject his headship, you reveal how you feel not only about your husband but also about God and his requirements. – Colossians 3:18

When discussing challenging issues, learn to attack the problem – not your husband’s character. Queen Esther, for example, wanted her husband, King Ahasuerus, to correct an injustice. Rather than attack him personally, she expressed herself tactfully. Her husband accepted her suggestion and eventually did the right thing. (Esther 7:1-4; 8:3-8) Your husband is more likely to learn to love you deeply if (1) you allow him time to master his new role as a head of a family and (2) you treat him with respect, even when he makes mistakes. – Ephesians 5:33

TRY THIS: Rather than taking note of ways in which you feel your spouse ought to change, keep a changes-I-need-to-make-list. Husbands: When you upset your wife by the way you exercise or fail to exercise your headship, ask her how you can improve, and then write the suggestion down. Wives: When your husband feels that he is not being shown respect, ask him how you can improve, and take note of the suggestion.

source: WT. August 1, 2010. Vol. 131. No. 15

The article wraps up by telling mates to maintain reasonable expectations. Have you ever heard someone say that learning to maintain a happy marriage is like riding a bike. Sometimes you fall, sometimes you run into stuff and sometimes you glide easily, but the more you practice, the more confident you become. Likewise, expect blunders in marriage. There’s no way around it. At the same time, maintain a good sense of humor. Take each other’s concerns seriously, but laugh at yourself when you make a mistake. It lightens the mood. I like this next sentence especially. “Seize opportunities to make your mate rejoice during your first year of marriage. (Deuteronomy 24:5)” Last but not least (and this is something I whole-heartedly agree with as a Christian), let God’s Word guide your relationship. If you do, your marriage will grow stronger.

So what did you think about the series? I know that mixing the Bible with relationships, or the Bible with anything is a bit taboo, but as a Christian I truly believe that use of the Bible is practical and beneficial. The first spousal arrangement originated with God (think Adam and Eve), so why not go to the Bible for advice? Anyway, I’d love to hear your feedback. Hit me up!

Have a good weekend!

jendayi

I LOVED everything about this next wedding, photographed by Chris Aram. I loved looking at the photos and seeing every small detail that went into the day. I loved  talking to the bride, Luisa, and hearing the story of how she and her entire family stayed up for days baking and icing TWO HUNDRED lemon cupcakes in what turned out to be the perfect assembly line.

I loved hearing about the center pieces which used cake stands and vases that have belonged to friends and family members for years.

I LOVED  even their napkins, ladies. That’s right, their napkins! They used various fabrics in pinks, yellows and tans that she and her fiance, Gordon, cut into squares to use as the  napkins for their dinner. They had their own napkin labels made at Etsy.com that said “Luisa ♥ Gordon July 3, 2010.”  Her mom sewed them up and placed them at all the tables in complete “mis-matchy” fashion. And it doesn’t stop there! A label was even sewn into her beautifully textured gown– talk about “homemade icing on the cake.”

I loved this wedding SO MUCH– that I completely forgot it took place in Ohio. Not excatly in our “district,” to say the least. Regardless, I didnt think its locale was enough to deprive you of the bridal eye-candy below.

Another one of my favorite touches to this DIY goodness– Luisa glamed up her shoes with the bedazzle all of us brides have come to love but, to add that little something extra, Gordan joined in the fun! I have a feeling you’re going to want to see even more photos from this little diddy- so be sure to check them out at Chris’ blog.

This couple is every bit as fun-loving and in love as they appear in their wedding photos and it was such a joy to hear about every detail. All our love from DC, you two crazy kids!

Got an easy one for you today — bachelorette ideas for the engaged sports-fan!

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The Washington DC area has the big five… a team for the NFL, NBA, MJB, MLS, and NHL.  Depending on the type of sports the bride favors, and the time of year when the party is being thrown, you’ve pretty much always got an option:

• Washington Redskins: for football fans, or parties in the fall or early winter (FedEx Field, less than a mile’s walk from the Morgan Boulevard metro station, blue line; or drive and park)
• Washington Wizards: for basketball fans, or parties in the late fall, winter, or early spring (Verizon Center, at the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station, red/green/yellow lines)
• Washington Nationals: for baseball fans, or parties in the spring or summer (Nationals Park, at the Navy Yard metro station, green/yellow lines)
• DC United: for soccer fans, or parties in the spring, summer, or early fall (RFK Stadium, at the Stadium-Armory metro station, orange/blue lines)
• Washington Capitals: for hockey fans, or parties in the fall or winter (Verizon Center, at the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station, red/green/yellow lines)
• *BONUS… Washington Mystics: bonus for basketball fans, our WNBA team — they play at the Verizon Center as well.

For the weekend, I’d get tickets to two different games — either the same sport, if your bride is a die-hard fan of a particular one, or different ones since those five seasons often overlap.  To fill in the rest of the weekend, I’d include an afternoon down on the mall playing kickball, softball, soccer, frisbee, or whatever other activity floats your group’s boat, and I’d also retreat to a sports bar at least one of the evenings.  Some to try in various parts of the city:

• U Street: for cheering on your favorite team while not getting hit on by drunk guys, try popular gay sports bar Nellie’s.  Bonus: they also have trivia and drag nights, if you’re into that kinda thing.
• Adams Morgan: for a sports bar that will hook your laptop up to the flat screens so you can watch your team if the game’s being streamed online but not televised, try Ventnor Sports Café.  Bonus: free popcorn on every table, and rumors of  a Wii.
• Capitol Hill: for cheap drinks and the hill staffer crowd, try the playfully named Pour House.  Bonus: if you tire of the cheap rails and TVs, head upstairs to Top of the Hill, where you’ll find Pour House’s martini-lounge-within-a-bar.
• Southeast: for cocktails and beer served in mason jars, and specials based around DC United games, try Southeast’s favorite dive, Trusty’s.  Bonus: there are stacks of board games at each table, to occupy you when your team is losing.  Chutes and ladders, anyone?!
• Dupont Circle: for 40 flat-screen tvs (4 of them being ten-footers) and the claim that “We show every major sporting event including all NFL games, college football, MLS and MLB,” try Buffalo Billiards.  Bonus: dart boards, shuffleboard tables, and pool tables runneth over, so even your party attendees who aren’t sports fans will very unlikely get bored.
• Foggy Bottom/West End: for stellar happy hour specials, and a bar name that’s a cheeky nod to our fair district, try 51st State Tavern.  Bonus: if you happen to be there on a Tuesday, you’ll be rewarded with their famous 20¢ wing night.

There you have it!  My suggestions for a sports-themed bachelorette weekend.  Next week I’ll wrap this up by sharing ideas for the traditional bar-hopping bachelorette party, so stick around!

Columbia Bridal Expo

August 14, 11:00-4:00

First Annual Columbia Bridal Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn Columbia sponsored by the MWPA August 14th from 11-5pm
Please join us at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 8241 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, Maryland, 21045
Tickets are $5.00

Hilton Garden Inn Columbia- 8241 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, MD 21045

D’Amour at Chevy Chase Bridal

August 13-15

Mazza Gallerie, Floor Two, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015. 202.363.9301

Dreaming of a Big Day close to home, but with a destination-wedding feel? Searching for an enchanted place where guests could spend days exploring? Hoping for someone to guide you through it all (and for free)? Take a tour through Loudoun County, Virginia with help from the Visit Loudoun team, and discover just how possible that fantasy wedding is!

Photographer: Joylyn Hannahs Site: Breaux Vineyards

Loudoun County is set amidst the rolling hills of the Virginia countryside, the ideal mid-Atlantic location for a true seasonal wedding. Loudoun boasts some of the region’s most extraordinary resorts and clubhouses, picturesque wineries, historic mansions, fine dining restaurants, and lovely estate homes.  There are B&Bs and restaurants nestled in pristinely restored buildings in the historic districts of our towns and villages.  There are hotels and country clubs with grand ballrooms.  Why not an organic farm-to-table restaurant such as The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm or Grandale Farm Restaurant?  If a restored barn or stable fits the vision, Sunset Hills Vineyard and The Stable at Bluemont Vineyards could be the perfect setting.  If a lush vineyard is a couple’s dream location, Breaux Vineyards, Tarara Winery, or Notaviva would be a great choice.  For couples looking for a historic mansion, the stunning Historic Whitehall Manor, Historic Morven Park, or Oatlands Plantation would ensure a day to remember.

Tell us about Visit Loudoun and the free wedding planning services you provide.

Visit Loudoun offers a myriad of complimentary services designed to make planning easier. Based on your vision, style and size of the guest list, we provide suggestions for ceremony and reception sites, as well as rehearsal dinner locations.  We can assist in securing accommodations for the out-of-town guests, along with group rates.  We can provide referrals for everything from florists to wedding coordinators. Finally, we’ll handle all the welcome materials, including county maps and other brochures, to assist guests with information on things to see and do during their stay.

What are some of the area attractions that guests of the wedding should explore while in Loudoun County?

Loudoun’s historic towns and villages are filled with charming boutiques and antique shops. The Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets is also a destination in and of itself.  There are several heritage sites and historic homes in Loudoun that are open to the public for tours, as well as museums, including the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.  Loudoun is DC’s Wine Country, with more than 20 wineries in scenic settings.  There are also golf, recreation, and nature attractions. Check out events calendar the week of the wedding at www.visitloudoun.org.

for more information, contact Wendy Ferrigno:  ferrigno@visitloudoun.org or 703.669.4434

source: http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/wedding2.shtml

Morning all. Sorry for the delay although I doubt anyone was checking the blog at 6 in the morning. I’m severly under the weather…

Anyway, here’s part 2 of the blog that I wrote last week. If you haven’t read part 1, click here before reading further. If you have, then here is the second recommend skill to surviving your first year of marriage. Enjoy.

2. Learn To Be Tactful

What is the challenge? Depending on your family or cultural background, you might be in the habit of expressing your opinion firmly, even bluntly. For example, Liam, who lives in Europe, says: “Where I come from, People tend to be tactless. My blunt way of expressing myself often upset my wife. I had to learn to be more gentle.”

What is the solution? Do not assume your mate wants to be spoken to in the same manner that you are used to. (Philippians 2:3,4) The counsel that the apostle Paul gave a missionary is also helpful for newlyweds. He wrote: “A slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle.” In the original Greek, the word that is translated “gentle” can also be rendered “tactful.” (2 Timothy 2:24) Tact is the ability to discern the delicacy of a situation and to deal with the matter kindly, without causing offense.

Try This: When you are annoyed with your mate, imagine that instead of talking to your spouse, you are conversing with a good friend or with your employer. Would you still use the same tone of voice or choice of words? Then think of reasons why your spouse deserves to be spoken to with even more respect and tact than does your friend or employer. – Colossians 4:6

source: WT. August 1, 2010. Vol. 131. No. 15

I like the suggestion in bold. If I imagined that my husband was my employer when I am annoyed with him, I probably would navigate things more smoothly. I hope you enjoyed. Look out for Part 3 next week. Have a good weekend.

jendayi

If you went to the latest Sassanova sale and were disappointed to see the last Kate Spade ‘Lora’ sandal was 5 sizes too big, fear not. I have recently found some end-of-summer savings for your tootsie that will really tickle your fancy.

Piperlime, an online sister company of Gap and Banana Republic, is ready to blowout their summer shoe storage and, for the bride-to-be, that could mean HUGE savings on shoes for you and your bridal party.  Below, you’ll find a few picks that are sure to please.

Planning to offer a flip flop basket at your beach or bay-side wedding? Hit up Old Navy right now for some flip flops as low as 0.97!!!

These are steals you can’t beat!

Happy hump day, gals!

I’d like to take a brief intermission from my bachelorette party series (but sit tight because I have a few more coming) to answer a really excellent comment left by fellow District Bride Guide blogger Casie, like, forever ago.  Firstly — GREAT comment, Casie!  You’ve brought up an issue that many other DC DIY brides-to-be must be struggling with.  Secondly — the reason for my delay is that I hadn’t actually finished my printing when you wrote that.  In fact, I hadn’t even started!  But now I’m dunzo, and I actually had an overwhelmingly positive printing experience.  So I thought I’d share my experience with you, along with some trusty tips.  Bear with me, mmkay?  It’s a bit of a long post.

Our invitations were designed by a college girlfriend of mine who has some experience with graphic design (working with Adobe Illustrator).  I showed her some inspiration and she mocked up a first draft, and then we went back and forth with revisions and such until we were all pleased with the design (quick note: this process took several weeks, but partially because she also has a full-time job, and we live on opposite coasts, so sometimes that pesky timezone thing got in the way).  Once they were designed, I bought envelopes and cardstock from Paper Source in my chosen colors, and then I was ready to print.  I had the invitiations and response cards printed at the Kinko’s (now called FedEx Office, but I still think of it as Kinko’s) near the Eastern Market metro station, and the response envelopes printed at Pronto Press in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Anyhoot, I thought I’d share some tips based on my experience printing with Kinko’s, since it seems like an increasingly popular (and cost- and time-effective!) option for brides right now, but apparently can be quite frustrating.  I personally didn’t have a lick of trouble with them refusing to print my invitations, so I’m hoping my tips will help those wondering if they’ll be able to do this.  Here we go!

• Build a generous cushion into your printing timeline. I intended to have them printed on a Saturday, but when I arrived and asked for a test-print, I discovered a handful of crucial mistakes on the PDFs, including the sizing (for some reason, my design friend designed them to be the correct size in Illustrator, but when Kinko’s printed them, they were suddenly too small). We still don’t know why this happened, but a cushion of about five days did me a world of good — I ended up getting the whole lot printed on the following Wednesday evening.  Don’t plan to print them, like, at the verylastsecond.
• Bring your design in a PDF, not a Word document.  A friend of mine printed her invitations at the Clarendon Kinko’s and tipped me off to this one.  She designed her text-only invite in Word, and when she got to Kinko’s, they had a different version of Word, and she spent over an hour sitting at the Kinko’s computer reconfiguring the suddenly screwed-up layout.  Turn your design into a PDF before you get there, so they’ll see it exactly how you saw it, no matter the computer.  If your computer can’t print to PDF, download the free PrimoPDF program which will convert your files for you (I use this on my home laptop, and I definitely recommend it).
• Test print, test print, test print!  Never just drop off your PDFs and wave goodbye as the door hits you in the ass on your way out.  I had Kinko’s test-print the design several times over the course of five days, until my designer and I (and the Kinko’s printers) could get it right.  Not only were there issues with the design itself, but the first round of test printing had colored streaks on it — I’m guessing the toner had just been changed.  On that Wednesday evening, the final test came out looking kind of wonky, but this time it was a problem with their computers and not my PDFs or the toner… but thanks to a test-run, they were able to fix the problem on the spot and get them done.  You’ll want to see a good, clean, accurate proof before you give the green light for all the rest, especially if you’ve brought in your own (read: limited amount of) cardstock.  Which brings me to…
• Print on 8 ½ by 11″ cardstock.  We used Paper Source’s Luxe Fino Cream, which we bought in their bulk packs (to use for the invites, the RSVP cards, the menu cards, various signage, etc.).  Position two 5 x 7″ invitations, or four 4-bar sized RSVP cards, on each sheet.
• Consider the cutting.  The Kinko’s staffers told me that the cuts are easiest for them when your invite or RSVP cards have outlines around them, preferably just slightly larger than 5 x 7″ so they can cut inside the lines to prevent them from showing on the finished product (note: this may vary by staff member, I’d ask before your designer goes to the trouble).  I personally chose to cut my paper pretties myself using my Martha Stewart Crafts scrapbooking trimmer, just because their test-cut was a teensy bit sloppy (like the machine had left an imprint into the corners of the soft cardstock; really, it was probably fine), but ask for a test-cut and judge for yourself.  It’s totes not necessary to take this task on yourself like I did, it was just a personal (read: anal retentive, perfectionist, delegation-hating) decision that felt right for me.  On the flip side, my friend had them cut hers, and they looked beautiful, so maybe the cutting quality depends on your individual store, or the skill level of the particular staffer who’s helping you.  That trusty test-run will help you figure this out.
• Know that Kinko’s cannot print on 4-bar envelopes.  I was told that they can’t print directly onto any envelopes in-house; my store sends envelopes out to their production center in northern Virginia, with a two-day turnaround.  This by itself would have been fine, until I found out pretty late in the game that even the production center can’t print directly onto 4-bar envelopes; they’re just too small.  At this point you have two choices: ask your designer for your address block as a JPEG file and duplicate it onto address labels (the easy route), or find a print shop that can print onto envelopes that small (the frustrating route).  If you’re going for the latter, as my parents asked me to do, it’s preferable to not do this on a Saturday or to do it last-minute, and definitely don’t do both (most indie print shops are closed on the weekends — I found my last-minute savior in the Chevy Chase Pronto Press, and although it meant scrapping my meticulously planned day and driving 45 minutes each way, the turnaround was lightning-fast and they look fantastic).
• And, finally… Avoid peak times, and bring a giant tote bag full of patience.  When I arrived to Kinko’s after work, the two attendants were really flustered, as there were lots of customers trying to pull their attentions in different directions.  Frustratingly, this led to them starting to help me, but continuously getting sidetracked (he’d help me for a few minutes, then help someone else who was barking at him for a few minutes, then a third customer for a few minutes before coming back to me).  I tried really hard not to get all bridezilla on his ass, but I was pretty irritated that he was basically helping all the people in line behind me before my job was taken care of.  But as soon as the crowds dissipated, and there were no more shouting grannies or eye-rolling suits, the two clerks were suddenly much cheerier, and VERY attentive to me.  If only I had known the solution was just to come at 7:30 instead of 6:30…

So that’s it!  The tips that I found helpful for my printing adventure at Kinko’s.  All in all, it was a pretty easy way to get them printed, and amazingly cheap, too — my invites and response cards were full color, and enough cardstock sheets for 99 5 x 7″ invites and 4-bar response cards, plus a handful of extra copies in case of cutting mistakes, only cost me $48, or about 59¢ per sheet.  That’s quite the steal, yes?

Did I miss any?  Please add any suggestions I may have missed in the comments — I’d love to hear the perspective of another bride-to-be who has tried this!