Wedding Trends for 2011

WooHoo!! Its another year and the thought of weddings taking place just sets off all kinds of excitement!! We know that every year offers something different and this year is no exception.

The 2011 wedding year is going to include a lot of Rustic Chic Concepts, they are taking on more of a classic feeling.  Outdoor weddings will be a major contender as soon as the weather breaks this will be the hottest trend of the season.  If you think about it why wouldn't an outdoor wedding be the next must have?  We have been trapped indoors for months now and we just want to see beauty and nature! 

Outdoor Weddings- It is really all about location, location, location! You want the right feeling, maybe its over looking the city or the mountains you want to take into consideration the theme of your wedding as well.  One very important thing you also need to remember when it comes to outdoor weddings is you cannot predict the weather so, make sure you always have a Plan B!  We have a couple who really captured the feeling of the great outdoors when they got married in October 2010 the backdrop was over looking the mountains of Arizona:

Pretty and Simplistic- This is the next big ticket after this year of seeing huge and opulent flower arrangements, comes a more simple and small arrangements-from beautiful garlands, lovely table runners, floating arrangements and simple table settings is the hottest trend this wedding season.  Tables will be long and elegant with a little air of mystery and romance.  Brides and Grooms are looking to be Eco-friendly, and they want the feeling to be more inviting and feelings of home and comfort. The table scape's are more of a center piece and allow guest to really be able to mingale with each other:

Taking things back- Meaning couples are opting to go more vintage which has become such a hot trend at the end of the 2010 wedding season but, it making a huge apperance in the 2011 wedding season.  Many couples are opting for the classic lines and feelings even to the old vintage Rolls to have the bride arrive at the wedding venue.  Many couples are even taking clues from ventage brands to give their guest a lovely favor that is simplistic and very romatic.  The hair and makeup are soft and swooping and the color pallets are soft, rustic and very romatic:

Details- The most important part of this year are the attention to small details.  If you are having that romatic rustic wedding think about the details of the venue, invitation, flowers and menue.  Things may be a little more simplistic but they aren't skimpping on any of the details. They have even thought about how the cake should be presented for this type of setting and many couples are going with a vintage cake stand or a more none-traditional wedding cake (make sure you read February issues when we will spotlight none-traditionl wedding cakes):

Photographs- Go old school have a little fun and don't make things so poisey, poisey! Ask your photographer to catch your bridal party being natural having fun and laughing and joking.  Get a few black and white photos and make it feel somewhat home made:

Menus and Food- Simple but Quality is very important! This is one area where you Do Not want to skimp or be cheap at.  The food and menu can make or break a wonderful wedding and most people will have much to say over your menu.. Have more traditional dishes but present the food in very modern ways make sure that your Caterer is able to deliver all of what you are looking to do and give them a little room with their creativity.  Most Caterers love to have somewhat of and edge when it comes to prepairing and presenting:

Weddings for the 2011 season are celebrating all things that are romatic and just a little out of the box.  We know whatever style you choose will be just breathtaking and fabulous!

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants
Where everyhthing is Fabulous!
Article By: N. Thomas for LaPaz Image/Event Consultants-Bridal Edition

Chief Editor: S. LaRae
Photos Provided by: A. Mulkowski

 

This article is property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and copyrights of Lapazimageingfashion.blogspot.com ©2010.  It is prohibited by law to copy, add or release this information without signed authorization of the so said company herein listed in this article under the laws of The United States and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Copyright Infringement Laws. 

Bridal Hair Trends for SS-2011

When we started thinking about this article we thought back to the Bridal Runway show of Carolina Herrera and we thought she was really on top of a very hot hair trend for the coming wedding season and she took it right from a classic look that and R&B Icon Billie Holiday use to wear.  Which is the classic Chignon with beautiful flowers as accent details to this classic look!  Ms. Billie Holiday was known for this look and everyone knew that it was her just from the silhouette of her hair.

Looking at the runway show we noticed that Carolina Herrera up-dated this classic look, by not having it so structured as what Billie Holiday once wore.  We noticed that Old Hollywood is making a major come back when it come to hair trends.

With these two looks from the runway of Carolina Herrera you can see that she has lowered the Chignon's and has made them free flowing on the top of the head and not molded.  We even noticed that some of the top celebrities have also opted to rock the classic Chignon for many special occasions and the most popular had to be Katherine Heigl with her Wavy up-do Chignon, Jennifer Lopez and Paula Patton.  We have to say these 3 starlets really know just how to rock this look and it gives such a timeless look of beauty and elegance when women where real ladies.

We started thinking of how to modernize this look and got a few ideas.  Most people wear this look with a feeling of old world but, what can you do to up-date it just a bit more?  The hair is more or less drawn away from the face but then you can also have it tousled slightly and on the face more. Add a different kind of hair embellishment such as feathers, a net or maybe you're the type of woman that loves bling!  You have to make this look your own and have the confidence to rock it the way that you see and feel fits your personality best.  Here are a few modern twist to the classic Chignon:

 Maybe you like the classic look from the 1950's then here is a very elegant look at the chignon that adds a little height to you and has the full-look of that. Both styles are with a more modern edge and you will make a real statement with this hair style.  If you decide to go with this look you should also know that your gown should also fit this theme and don't take away from the elegance that is offered for this theme.  If you are going for old Hollywood then do it all the way from the invitations, gown, suits for the groomsmen think of the venue and most importantly the atmosphere!  Give your guest the timeless beauty of this time even offer them a classic cocktail from this error.  We think it will go over very well! 

Enjoy this look and make sure you do your homework, be adventures and edgy with it but remember this is a classic and sophisticated style.

We look forward to hearing your feedback on this article!

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants-Bridal Edition

Where everything is Fabulous!





Wedding Gowns that Break Traditions!

We told you we where going to bring you a New Look and New Feeling to this site and we are doing just that with our first article under our new look.
So many times we get e-mails from Event Planners and Bride's-to-be, who want to do a little something outside of the norm.  Prime example of that is this e-mail that we received recently from a young lady in NV:

"Lisa K- Las Vegas, NV:
Hi I just got engaged and we are getting married next year but, I don't want to do the traditional white wedding gown. Are there any options out here for a bride who is willing to break the traditions and walk a little on the wild side?"

We got so excited when we saw this e-mail because we wanted to do a feature article on wedding gowns that broke the traditions and add a little something! We started doing some research and found that there are some great option out here for our Non-Traditional Brides to be! We start off with Designer Maggie Sottero she is very cutting edge and she even designed a fabulous Pink Wedding Gown that we flipped over! It has that romantic feeling to it, but also isn't something that you would see everyday, makes a real statement and sets you apart from the rest of the brides out here. Maggie is always doing something innovative and very fashion forward!

Both of these gowns are by Maggie Sottero she is pushing the envelope with her creations and is always taking brides to a different level.  Maggie feels like you need to put a little flare in these traditions and if she can give brides a little something other then the same old white gown that is what she is doing.  You can visit her site at http://www.maggiesottero.com/ and she is also carried at David's Bridal and other very well known Bridal Boutiques.

Maggie Sottero's collection offers a wide variety of styles and looks and many of the gowns can be ordered in any color pallet that you are looking for or what will match your personality and style!


Still what if you are looking for more.  Then maybe you should start thinking outside of the bridal realm totally.  I know that we just recently helped a bride that didn't want to get married in a wedding gown she wanted something a little more Couture and regale.  We started doing our homework and came across an incredible Designer that is giving something that is breathtaking, elegant, unique and classy!

We are speaking of Designer Georges Chakra Couture Collection.  We didn't really know much about him until we started looking into his collection for our client.  Georges Chakra is a Beirut-based Lebanese Haute Couture Fashion Designer.  Since 2001, Georges Chakra presented his collections at Paris Fashion Week.  Then in 1985 he established his band and has dressed the who's, who in the industry from: Rihanna, Beyonce, Tyra Banks and many, many more.  We knew right then and there we were going to be in for a treat because Georges Chakra's fashions were also featured in the 2006 movie "The Devil Wears Prada" with Meryl Streep and if you love fashion as we do you know the clothes in this movie was to die for or at least dream over night after night!! 

We wanted to see what he could offer our Brides-to-be that would be different and elegant at the same time and we have to say we was not disappointed one bit!

Gowns featured on weddinginspirasi.com

We told you this Designer is bringing something very different to the Wedding Industry and is breaking the traditional rules.  He celebrates with colors and flowing fabrics that you just don't see every day.  Our client went with this beautiful yellow gown on the right because she wanted a feeling of a Latin inspired gown but not being what most people would think a bride would wear!  I have to say we were so please to have seen this gown in person and that she was just that daring and different to have the confidence to pull a dress off like this at such a special and memories occasion!

Then as you know we also highlighted Designer Ezra who we got to see at the Couture Fashion Week in New York!  We are still just singing the praises of this Designer and cannot tell you how innovative and out of the box the collection was!  We hope that you will refer back to our article but if not we are including photos from Ezra Santos Collections as well. 

From start to finish we where truly awe struck by this Designer and if we get the opportunity to dress another bride who wants something that is just breathtaking and ground breaking then we know exactly where we are going for her gown! 

To end this article we thought we would give you a little whimsy as well.  We saw this Gown on the Internet and it has LCD lights and they can be turned on or off because they are battery operated and the pack is on the puffy part of the gown so no one will notice the pack.

We hope you have enjoyed this article as much as we have enjoyed bringing this to you!  We want to hear your feedback so please make sure you post your comments directly to this post.

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants-Bridal Edition
Where everything is Fabulous!

To learn more about any of the Designer that we featured in this article feel free to e-mail lapazimageing@yahoo.com. 
This article is property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and cannot be duplicated, copied or redistributed without signed consent of the so-said company herein stated.  Copyright 2010 

Bridal-Gown Take Over!

This is going to come as a shocker to most of you that read this blog but, we have to tell you, there is more to bridal gowns than Vera Wang, Monique Lhuiller or even Badgley Mischka.. I know your saying "what are you talking about and did I hear you correctly?"  I never in my life thought I would tell you this but there is more to Bridal Gowns than these 3 Fabulous Designers. 

We just got back from Fashion Week in NYC and had the opportunity to go to Couture Fashion Week at the Waldorf-Astoria, Grand Ballroom! Let me tell you we where Wowed, from start to finish and we just knew right then and there we needed to let all of you Brides-to-be, in on acclaimed Fashion Designer Ezra Santos who made his U.S. debut at Couture Fashion Week and blew the roof off the building!

I don't think I have ever seen such beauty, detail and just pure elegance as what Ezra Santos presented.  Ezra Santos clientele reads like who's who much like Vera Wang, Badgley Mishka and Monique Lhuillier.  He pulls inspiration from such greats as Christian Lacroix, John Galliano and renowned French Designer Erte.  We would like to give you Ezra Santos Bridal Gowns!

I cannot begin to tell you the pure pandemonium that happened when these beautiful creatures emerged onto the runway.  The applause was just thunderous and people where just in Awe of what we where seeing!  Breathtaking just doesn't seem to really do these most magnificent gowns justice but all of the above would truly fit this Designer.  Talk about a true visionary well Ezra Santos is just that and more!

To learn more about this AMAZING Designer please visit: www.ezrafashiondesign.com

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants-Bridal Edition
Where everything is Fabulous!

All photos are property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and this article is property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and copyrights of Lapazimageing.blogspot.com ã 2010.  It is prohibited by law to copy, add or release this information without signed authorization of the so said company herein listed, under the Laws of The United States and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  Copyright Infringement Laws. 

The Wedding is Over Now What About The Gown?

This is such a great question because you have all the great memories of your wonderful wedding day tucked away in your heart and you have thousands of photos of your wedding and your gown. Now you have this beautiful wedding dress that you spent months, weeks, days and hours shopping for just hanging like a large ghost in your closet.

We have a few suggestions that may help you in regards to this matter:

1. You cannot part with your gown: Then it is very important that you take the proper steps immediately to preserve your gown.  If you have your gown properly cleaned and preserved it will protect your gown from yellowing, creasing, molding or mildewing, light and dust.

Some of the top Bridal Shops may offer preservation packages but, if not there are a few companies such as WedClean- They will send you a postage paid box for you to pack your gown in and ship it to them. Don't panic! In two weeks your gown will be returned to you cleaned and preserved in its very own storage chest.  You can keep it to either pass down to your daughter or just keep it and put it in your chest of Memories.

2. Remaking It: You want to make more practical use out of it, think about special ways to use parts of your gown so that the memories of your special day becomes memories for years such as:
      * You may want to use the satin from the train of your gown for edging a babies blanket.

      * Maybe take apart of the train to make a beautiful coverlet for a babies crib or beautiful decorative pillows for your bed and tie a colorful ribbon around them to give a nice accent

   * Take the tulle to make sachets for potpourri to place in your draws or hang in your closets

*  Something special that one bride did with her wedding gown was she took the gown to a seamstress and had them make a Christening outfit made for her god child and its good for a boy or girl

* Our you can take a patch from your gown to add to your scrapbook with a lovely photo of you and your husband from your wedding day

* You can keep the bodice of the gown and have a shorter skirt attached to it to wear maybe for your 1st anniversary or some other special occasion

3. Donate: You can donate your gown to an organization that helps brides-to-be that may not have the finances to purchase a gown as lovely as yours or you can donate your gown to the organization Making Memories (www.makingmemories.org).  This organization supports Breast Cancer Foundations they host a Brides Against Breast Cancer event.  They do a Nationwide Tour of gowns, and the donations they receive are used to grant final wishes for men and women suffering from terminal breast cancer.

These are just a few suggestions and whatever you choose to do with your wedding gown make sure that you keep the memories of your wedding day and don't feel pressured that you must give away your most wonderful wedding gown.

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants

Where everything is Fabulous!

All contents of this article are property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and Lapazimageing Fashion Forward copyrights 2010.  It is prohibited by law to redistribute this information as your own or to copy as set forth in the copyright laws of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and LaPaz Image/Event Consultants. 

Top Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Style

Many times when we think of weddings the word "Extravagant" comes to mind, but many times brides don't have the tools they need.  In this economy there are always practical things you need to know so you can have the wedding of your dreams but not break the bank.

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants are going to give you a few suggestions to help you not feel pressured and stressed over such a wonderful occasion:
BRIDES:
Off-the-Rack: Yes you read that correctly prior to you feeling that you have to spend thousands of dollars on a designer gown first visit a few reputable bridal stores and try on a few gowns off the rack.

   Don't: spend the down payment for a home for your wedding gown

   Don't: Feel as if you must wait 5-10 months for a designer wedding gown to be ordered

   Do: Buy your gown off the rack from stores such as: David's Bridal, J. Crew and other well known stores.  The trick is to pick something that is timeless, cost effective and represents you and your style

BRIDESMAIDS:
Individuality: Don't be afraid to allow your girls personality to shine through.  Everyone knows that its your special day and all eyes will be on you, no matter what you may think or feel.

   Don't:  Matchy-Matchy! Gone are those days there are very few dresses that flatter all body-shape and types one style of dress isn't going to fit each person and you shouldn't expect that of your girls

   Do: Allow your girls to select gowns they like give them the color and if you want them to be full-length or cocktail dresses.  Make sure you let them know what isn't allowed such as very low cut dresses showing too much cleavage or low cut in the back.  Maybe you don't want them to have splits up to their thigh that is strictly your call.  You will see that your girls are very happy and they will feel comfortable in their particular dress.
     **Example: One bride selected the color "blue."  She choose two different colors one was sky blue and the other was Sapphire the girls were able to select which color looked best on them and they were able to choose the style of dress that was flattering to their particular body-shape**

Side Note: If you are doing a very traditional wedding and your bridesmaids are wearing black pop the color with there footwear maybe a beautiful green shoe or red do something that will add a little flare to their gowns!

MOTHER-OF-BRIDE/GROOM:
Realistic: Yes mom we know this is your baby that is getting married but you have to remember all of your friends and family cannot be apart of the big day.

   Don't: Feel that cousin so-and-so who is removed 10 times from the family has to be in attendance of your son or daughters' wedding.  They don't know you and you don't know them.

   Don't: Make the wedding everything that you wished even if you are paying for the wedding.  This is very important make sure you are listening to the couple and bringing forth their ideas for their special day, you had your wedding now its there turn to shine.

   Do: Make sure that some of your wishes are carried through maybe it is a family tradition or jewelry that has been passed down in the family. 

Side note:  Make sure that his mother is included she is just as special as your mother and is a major part of this big day

GROOMS:
Be apart of your day: Okay fellas I know all of this may be a little overwhelming to you but you must plug in and make yourself apart of your wedding day.  Yes it is your wedding day as well and everything shouldn't fall upon your bride-to-be:

   Don't: Act like you're a guess at your wedding be proactive

   Don't: leave every and all the decisions up to your bride go to the cake tasting, help in selecting your invitations or save-the-dates, plan the honeymoon

   Do: Make sure you have purchased nice gifts to give to your groomsmen they will appreciate that you have take the time to think of them and value them being apart of your special day

   Do: Make sure your look goes with the theme of the wedding.  If you are having a beach wedding don't wear a full-tux but maybe a nice suite with the pants cuffed at the bottom.

These are just a few tips to help you, each event is different and that there will be something that you won't be able to foresee but try to work with each other so you can have wonderful and lasting memories of your wedding day!!

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants
Where everything is Fabulous!

This article is property of LaPaz Image/Event Consultants and copyrights of  Lapazimageing.blogspot.com 2010. It is prohibited by law to copy, add or release this information without signed authorization of the so said company herein listed in this article under the laws of The United States and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Copyright Infringement Laws.

How to Pick Shoes to Go With a Wedding Dress

Once upon-a-time wedding shoes use to come in ugly, uglier and ugliest! That isn't the case any longer, you can pick from top designers, colors and not have to worry about the same-old-same old.  No longer is the copycat looks that all the brides before, after and a long use to wear!

Shoes maybe the last thing on your mind but; they are just as important because you will be in them for hours and most brides don't realize, there is going to be a least one shot of your shoes. Either you having the guarder belt removed or you taking your first dip from your husband on the dance floor; you will have a shot of your feet in one of those photos and you don't want to be caught with the ugliest shoes!

In giving thought about this we came up with a few things when you are in the process of selecting your wedding shoes:

1. Cost: Yes ladies shoes are like a great investment, you don't want to be breaking the budget but you want to get a good pair of shoes.

2. The length of your gown: If your gown is going to be covering your shoes and won't be seen maybe you can go for a more conservative shoe. Now lets say your not that kind of girl and your gown is short well then you need to consider opting for a less traditional shoe.

3. Statement Brides: Think about maybe adding a pop of color or some sort of embellishment, like crystal rhinestones, sequins or something that gives the pop such as:

                            

4. Brides on the Shorter side: You need to consider wearing a higher heel that will heighten you and pick your gown up from off the floor:

5. Bride maids wearing dark color: Instead of going so matchy-matchy have a little fun with your girls shoes meaning add that color to their gowns by doing it with the shoes.  Take for example this brides colors where black and she added the color with her girls shoes in a bold, beautiful hue of green:

6. Comfort, COmfort, COMFORT: Just because you found the most "Fabulous" pair of shoes doesn't mean that they are perfect for you.  You need to weigh your pros and cons when it come to style-v-comfort.
*side note: invest in a good pair of inserts for your shoes

7. Slipping: Make sure your foot doesn't slip in your shoes it will cause serve foot pain and makes for a very long painful day! Make sure if you are wearing stockings that the shoe fits properly and that your foot isn't slipping back in forth always try on your shoes with a footy this way you can see how the shoe feels with hosiery.

8. Break them in: I cannot stress how important this fact is.  prior to your big day wear them around in the house make sure they feel good when your standing and to prevent you slipping on the floor ruff the bottoms of the shoes with a sandpaper. You may want to take them to a shoe maker and have them adhere a small patch to the bottom of the shoe we don't want you to take any embarrassing spills.

These are just a few tips for you when your out selecting your footwear for your big day.  Brides and Bridesmaids you will want to try on your shoes when your foot is a little swollen as well this way you will get a true feel for your shoes and this way they won't be killing you on your wedding day. 

Take your time and your most beautiful, perfect Cinderella Slipper will appear.

LaPaz Image/Event Consultants

Where everything is Fabulous!