No 22: the Veil

Wear a veil? Don't wear a veil? Traditional? Mantilla?



No. Birdcage. Definitely, absolutely birdcage.

This one is the "Angle" from Unveiled Bridal Designs. I would love to fasten it with a creamy fabric gardenia like this one from esty seller Smitten XOXO...

No 21: the One

I'm posting this photo of John (taken by Anne Sachs of Artful Weddings) because I miss him like hell. And plus, he's an awfully good looking man.

No 20: Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose

Lela Rose has signed on to do a line of bridal shoes with Payless, and here's a peak at what they'll look like.
the Maria
The Diana
The Jackie
And all the color options! I'm thinking about wearing a pair of blue shoes for my "something blue", and look how many blues there are!

No 19: the Music

Since those of you who read this (so far) know me, you're probably familiar with the fact that I study music, as does my beau. So what does this mean for my wedding?

Everything.

Just as John and I started dating, we took a long walk and began discussing, of all things, weddings. He turned to me and said, "I would love to conduct an orchestra during your wedding." Then he looked down and said, "Unless I'm doing something else instead."


John, I think that's the moment I knew you were the one.


My beloved composes some of my favorite music, and I want the first song he wrote for me, which we performed on my senior recital at Peabody, to play a role in our wedding. I'd like the programs and menu cards printed with the last two lines of Pablo Neruda's Sonnet XVII, and I want our first dance to be the tune of that fourth stanza of poetry, which is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Although it was debuted on my recital, it always makes me think of us working into the early hours of the morning, slowly improvising and editing, and falling asleep satisfied.

In addition to the inclusion of "our" song (how many people get to say "their" song was written for the two of you to play together?), I want our table "numbers" to enjoy their own musical theme. I've seen couples name them for places they've visited, skied, will go on their honeymoon...the sky's the limit. John and I love the idea of having tables named for composers who were and are significant to us. Gliere, Sor, Granados, Villa-Lobos, Elgar, Bellini, Mozart-you get the drift.

As for processional and recessional music, that's anyone's guess. Some days, the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings seems so perfect that I weep at the thought of walking down the aisle to it to meet John. (He's still very excited at the idea of conducting while I walk down the aisle.) Other days, we talk about pieces John is writing or could, and it seems very natural that he would write all the ceremony music. We'll just have to wait and see what he creates, and I couldn't be more excited.

No 18: Melissa Sweet Spring 2009

How sweet is this gown? I love looking at the new collections every season.

No 17: Monique Lhuillier Spring 2009

Pathetic sighs are the only noises I'm capable of making.

No 16: Carolina Herrera Spring 2009

I would not be able to get married in either of these gowns, because I would just die.

No 15: Amsale Spring 2009

I would never wear this on my wedding day, but wouldn't it be perfect for the rehearsal dinner?

No 14: the Big, White Bouquet

When I realized that I had managed to save both of these photos twice, I decided they probably suffice to explain what I want in my bouquet. As you know (or could guess) I love white in all its shades and delicious variations, and I want my wedding flowers to be full, clean and simple. I love peonies and roses, although I might use garden roses, which blend the beauty of both these types of flowers. Seriously, aren't these bouquets incredible? I love the idea of using white flowers at your wedding, especially roses which represent purity, innocence, sympathy and spirituality. I know that might not be everyone's idea of a wedding message, but it sure is mine.

Photos from theKnot.

No 13: the Ring Pillow

So obviously wedding ring cushions are not the most critical element (or even minor detail) of a wedding, but I think these pillows from Anna Whitford are so sweet. I love the Cream Primrose cushion, and am seriously tempted to just order it now. It'll make a lovely accent pillow until my big day...

No 12: Real Simple Weddings 2009

So I know I recently published a post about a magazine, and my perfect blog would ideally vary the themes and content of each post but...Johner's mom sent this to me, and I'm so excited! Everyone's been raving about Real Simple Weddings, available online at Crate and Barrel. I haven't even gotten to actually read it yet because I was so anxious to post a big "Thank You!" to Judy! My plans for the evening included dinner and Homeland Security U.S.A. (which I think is hyterical but I'm pretty sure is not the show's intention) but now I also get to read an incredible wedding publication!

No 11: the China

I love, love, love white and gold china. In fact, one of the wedding themes I've dreamed about for years is based on gold wedding bands, featuring a white fondant cake with gold bands at the base of each layer, gold ribbons and, of course, white and gold china. I'll end up with a smorgasborg of floral prints, so my plan is to register for chargers, serving plates, a soup tureen, etc. with gold and kelly green accents and/or bands.

No 10: MSW Winter 2009

I finally found it! I've been looking for you for weeks on the newsstands, MSW, and now I have you! I can hardly sleep from the excitement, and I'm dying to go to school tomorrow so I can spend the entire day actually reading my new magazine!

I'm a little ashamed by the ratio of exclamation points to sentences above, and sure, I've probably seen the majority of the content online already, but that glossy publication makes my heart race.

No 9: Real Wedding: Erin and Chris

I found these stunning photos on Ben Chrisman's website, and it's the perfect vintage wedding at City Hall in San Francisco, CA. I love the birdcage veil, the little white cocktail dress, the red roses...a gorgeous homage to Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, who were married there in 1954.

No 8: Optimal Modes of Transportation

Limos are fine, but frankly, I'd rather get around on my wedding day in anything but. Old-fashioned bicycles, a dove gray Bentley, a vintage roadster. Hell, even a classic pickup truck. Isn't that photograph drop-dead?

No 7: the Gown

I have been dreaming about my wedding dress since I was a little girl. My first wedding theme was based on a classic mid/late 90's full skirted, preppy gown with a wide swath of satin ribbon at the bottom of the skirt and top of the bodice. Of course, the veil would also have that ribbon of satin, and the cake, and the flowers, and, and, and.

Since then, I've gone through many phases of dress devotion. The Melissa Sweet Hallie was the first dress I clipped from a magazine, and I still have it lovingly glued into my wedding book. Since then, I've always imagined a beautiful lace mermaid gown.

My boyfriend, John loves the Paloma Blanca style number 3854 which you might recognize from her recent ad campaigns. My wedding file (a file in my documents called "weddings" which has 20 sub-files (and all those files have 5, 6, 7 or more files within them) contains several dedicated to some of my favorite dresses. One of the files is "John's gowns", and includes three or four more dresses that look nearly identical to the Paloma Blanca (satin mermaid gowns with lace applique on the hem and top of the bodice). Clearly, the man has something in mind.

I have many other gowns in the "gowns" file, including a collection of some of my favorite historical gowns: Jackie O's fashion forward, socially progressive and truly unique dress and the Givenchy confection that Audrey Hepburn wore in "Funny Face" with Fred Astaire top my list. But I also love mermaid gowns without lace, in simple, creamy bridal satins. I'm not one for fuss: beading, sparkles and excessive decoration have never been something I wear comfortably, so a gown with a stunning silhoutte and little else would be perfect for me.

I happen to be the very blessed child of a gifted designer and seamstress who has made several custom wedding gowns and plenty of my recital gowns. She has all my measurements, so I would love if she would recreate this Carolina Herrera polka dot masterpiece from her 2004 bridal collection.

And of course, sometimes a girl just dreams of a princess dress. This J.Crew gown, called the "Lucinda" is my own version.

I told my mom when I was 15 that it was O.K. for us to spend a lot of money on a dress because I'd still be wearing it years from now. This past New Years Eve, I wore that very cocktail dress I'd talked her into years ago (I'm 22 now). So I figure that I should start trying stuff on, and then buy my dream gown online from someone on the cheap. Whenever I get married, I'll be sure it'll still fit.

No 6: the Paper

Letterpress. Be still my heart...

I have always loved stationery. A lovely monogrammed note card, the perfect vintage Valentine, my mother's favorite folded cards with real fabric to make dresses. Stationery is an elegant way to tell someone you were thinking of them, and reveals so much about your personal style and the tone of your wedding.

I personally love letterpress. The ink, deep in a bed of thick, creamy paper is so luscious it's almost obscene.

One of my favorites is Bella Figura which creates the most delicious paper products a girl could dream of. Use the gallery of invitations and customize to your heart's content, or work with them on a design that's utterly your own. They're located outside of Syracuse, NY and they're wind-powered, carbon-neutral and eco-loving. They print exclusively on cotton paper, so there's no guilt in gorgeous invites.

Letterpress is a little pricey, but heavens, it makes my heart race!

No 5: My metrognome

My boyfriend is crazy for those rolled up tobaccy sticks, and I think there's something so wonderfully old-world about serving cigars and single malt scotch instead of coffee. Obviously, John also has a soft spot in his heart for single malts, and cowboy boots, the Texan that he is. He owns a rifle and a buck knife, and taught me how to use 'em. The man drives a pickup. He might as well be an inspiration board for metrognomes.

"The metrognome comes in several forms. There is the archetypal Pacific Northwestern/Western metrognome, of course, attired in flannels and beard year-round. The metrognome was originally identified, in fact, in San Francisco. The southern metrognome has been known to evoke the Civil War. Then there is the seasonal metrognome, who comes out only when the weather grows cold. This varietal wears a beard, yes, but his clothing also becomes considerably more rugged than is his wont, or than is necessary in an urban environment. The metrognome is not to be confused with the Bear, who is characterized by a certain natural burly hirsuteness. The metrognome transformation, by contrast, is completely inorganic and owes nothing to actual appearance. As "metro" implies, there is an element of deliberate grooming and styling involved."-Jezebel

So in honor of John's excellent taste, we'll serve his favorite beers (Shiner Boch, Firestone Pale 31 and O'Hara Stout), his favorite soup (tomato basil) and certainly cigars and scotch. I'm thinking the Balvenie Double Wood, but we'll see. Since we're not yet offically betrothed, I can certainly hold off on ordering a case of anything.

Photos from Ceci NY and theKnot(I think).

No 4: the Cake Topper

I found out about Etsy after I got deep into wedding blogs, and who wouldn't like a website where creative, crafty people sell gorgeous wares? Their wedding shop is actually a little overwhelming at first because there's so much stuff to see! I absolutely adore DK Designs (also check out her website, DK Designs Hawaii) for her handcrafted clay flowers, and I think a cluster of white peonies or gardenias atop a simple white fondant cake would be stunning.

No 3: Meet the "Little Rascal"

A bit about me: My name is Lena, but my nearest and dearest call me "Laine". I'm a Masters student at a West Coast conservatory studying voice with a fellow coloratura soprano. I live for my day planner and matching Kelly green pencil case, and I've been reading Vogue since I could drag my face across the carpet. Really. There are pictures, and I always seem to have my diaper around my ankles. I'm clumsy like you wouldn't believe, and I always carry band-aids.

My boyfriend, John is a guitarist, composer and aspiring conductor who happens to be my favorite collaborator and closest friend. He's finishing his undergraduate degree on the East Coast, so for now we're living apart, but we spent the last year cohabitating in the most gorgeous one-bedroom, two fireplace flat which I miss more than I can say. We'll wait out the next semester and then John will join me, hopefully to attend the same school for his Masters after I've finished mine. He's got big plans for the proposal, but he won't spill except to say that he needs at least a year or two and that I have to keep singing.

Luckily, he adores my wedding bug and has caught it himself. I've found him making changes to the menu and his favorite gown is at the top of my "to try on" list (Paloma Blanca Style 3854).

In addition to singing and weddings, I love trashy TV (but don't you dare tell anyone), champagne, stationery, the New York Times and the color white. And John. John most of all.

No 2: Tents!

What romantic teenage girl read The Great Gatsby in high school and didn't dream of a big party under a white tent in the yard (or a closet full of silk tops in all the colors of the rainbow?) My dream wedding would combine the elegance of a 1920's fete with a casual lawn party: think galvanized steel tubs with John's favorite beer and champagne, low centerpieces of white roses, peonies and hydrangeas, a jazz trio playing standards and all our friends in mid-calf, full-skirted party dresses, singing Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
Photo from: The Knot.com

This tent looks absolutely perfect for that party.


Also, a Martha Stewart how-to on renting a tent.

No 1: Inaugural Post

This will be my first post, my inaugural post if you will, and given the season, it seems very appropriate. Tonight, my friend Matt was watching me troll other peoples' wedding blogs and finally confronted me about my problem. My problem is this:

I have files in my files in my wedding file (more on this to come, I'm sure). I have every issue of Martha Stewart Weddings since I could drive myself to the store late at night to buy them. I spend so much time thinking about, talking about and stalking other peoples' weddings that it could be a job and often distracts me from the things I actually need to be doing. The time I've spent organizing my wedding file is enough to have found certainly one alternate fuel source. And now, we agree, it's time for me to take my obsessive bookmarking and photo-compiling and turn it into a potentially useful, and at the very least funny, drain of my free time.

But what do you post in the first post? It sets the tone. You say, "This is the thing about weddings that matters most to me." Is it a dreamy white fondant cake with an antique wedding bell cake topper? The most divine Carolina Herrera polka dot gown? A drop dead gorgeous letter pressed invitation suite in baby blue calligraphy? The perfect tower of coupe glasses filled with Veuve Clicquot?

While clearly I fantasize about these things when I could be accomplishing something useful, the image I want to start (and perhaps leave) readers with is this one. Not a detail, but a feeling. The most wonderful picnic with really gorgeous china and the people who matter most to you both.



















Photo: Martha Stewart Weddings, Summer 2008.