a Signature Scent

Monday, March 28, 2011

This weekend as I happily clicked through one beautiful wedding, birthday party and chic bridal shower after another, I had an absolutely terrible thought:
When are these fabulous events going to look passé?

I know that we can't imagine a time when ombré layer cakes, Anthropologie-inspired receptions and Confetti Systems won't look adorable, and perhaps the party planning trends of 2011 will stand the test of time. But as I saw wedding after wedding featuring chandeliers hung up in old oak trees, I worried that the beautiful bride in the photos would look back and think, "I wish my wedding looked more like my own."

I'm not suggesting that everyone who throws a rustic-chic barn wedding is a faker, because I know my fair share of girls with an ongoing love affair with mason jars, but I also know how difficult it can be to ignore the sway of someone else's gorgeous fête. So what I'd love to see is a return to your signature: your singular scent, your well-organized wardrobe and a wedding you'll look back on with your children in 50 years and say, "Well isn't that beautiful?"


Photo by Jasmine Star, French Inspired Bridal Shower featured on Style Me Pretty.

43 comments:

  1. I must say, I've thought about that quite often too! Then I have a look at old events and try to find things that are still elegant and beautiful today.
    xo, Gabriella

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  2. Some things will always stand the test of time. Some say "classic" weddings are so boring, but I'd love to look back knowing that a classic wedding will always be stunning :)

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  3. i agree with katherine. classic. so chic:)
    gina

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  4. Yes! When I bought my wedding dress my rules were simple: when my grandkids see the photos they will not go "Grandma! What were you wearing?!!" I wanted my affair to be classic and elegant. At the same time I do wish I had more things that stood out so people would remember it. But, I had a lot people say that my wedding was very "me" and I love that also.

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  5. yup... i've been thinking of my *future* wedding every now and then, and i always have to imagine how i would feel about it 50 years from then. i want my wedding to be timeless... no frou frou, nothing "hip"... just classy, but fun with our personalities. i don't think i would ever regret that!

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  6. You are amazing. And I love love love this post. It's so true and so important to remain true to yourself not only in all aspects of your life but when it comes to your wedding. This is one of the reasons I was so bummed after our wedding; I felt we lacked what everyone else had. Yet, it wasn't until our day was featured on SMP that I realized our unique details and odd colour palette really made our wedding special and beautiful. Lena you're the best. Bear hug for sure xoxo

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  7. i definitely know what you mean, lady. no one ever threw a wedding they thought was out of style...but look at weddings 10, 20 years ago and you'll go "ACK! what is THAT?! sea foam green...jjust everywhere."

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  8. I think about this all the time! When planing anything it is hard to find yourself in all the gorgeous photos of other people weddings!

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  9. Awww... I know what you mean. But isn't that the thing? A wedding, an outfit, hair, glasses, decor - it's all a sign of the times? Hopefully we'll look back on our weddings and think it was classic and true to ourselves. I just looked back at my great-aunts wedding photos a few weeks ago and couldn't believe how chic she was - but it was classically 50s. She told me 6 other girls ended up wearing her dress. :) classic yet - but also totally that era.

    xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com

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  10. so true in so many ways. our guests walked away from our wedding saying "that was just so YOU" because we incorporated so many tiny details to make it US. mason jars and striped barber straws galore, it was still us. i think the biggest thing that happens now, is some brides strive to be posted on wedding blogs while losing sight of saying I do - and i agree, all of the neutrals, light airy photos and succulents tend to blend in with each other, but if that is what makes the bride and groom tick, then go for it! trends will always be trends and inspiration will continue to promote that :)

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  11. I tried to go with a timeless look for everything with our wedding, I guess we'll see how that holds up! :)

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  12. Oh wow! I want a totally classic 50s look! probably black and white with some pop of color. I do want mine to be classic and timeless...maybe no chandeliers in trees!

    http://annawalker1992.blogspot.com/

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  13. I have a hard time believing that I'll look back on my wedding and not think it was beautiful. It was so nature inspired - how can that not be beautiful throughout time?! We let the venue work its magic for us, so I think that will always be classic.

    I definitely think it was more personal to us and definitely not "classic" but that's just the way we wanted it, so that makes it worth it completely!

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  14. What a thoughtful post. (Although I would expect nothing less coming from you.) You are incredibly sweet and thoughtful! Have a lovely week and thank you for all of your lovely comments. xo Samantha

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  15. Dr. J and I got married at a cheesy Vegas wedding chapel- that will always be funny- no matter what!

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  16. Brilliant post. I feel really good about how our wedding/photos will hold up over time -- I have to say, most of the things we did were pretty traditional. But they were traditional in a way that reflected who we are and where we came from. I think that could be the most important thing to consider when you're planning a wedding -- being true to yourselves, to the extent that your means allow it, and not being swayed by things that are floating around in the media/in fashion that are really only a passing fancy. Of course, some things will be new and of the moment and you'll still love them down the road.

    I've been to a ton of weddings in the past few years (it's just that time of life) and I'd say across the board, none of them were particularly trendy or out there. But in that case, how do you distinguish your event from someone else's? Thinking back, I can pick out what it is about each wedding that makes the celebration absolutely that couple's. Pretty cool.

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  17. Well said, it is hard to find individuality these days with all of the fabulous ideas out there.

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  18. So much great conversation happening here. The one thing I know for sure is that I want a wedding that remains as classic and looks as fun in 50 years as it actually goes down the day it takes place. So long as we remain true to our tastes when planning, I don't anticipate any problems!

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  19. that is one thing I made sure to strive for at my own wedding. I wanted to make sure I could look back on it years down the road and still love everything as much as I did on the big day

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  20. That's a tough one. I think if that event is truly you, you will own it and it will stand the test of time.

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  21. I totally agree. the one thing that I loved about our wedding was that we pretty much made everything ourselves- my dad grew the centerpieces, my mom made the cakes, my grammie sewed the table runners, my husband designed the invites. and 50 years from now I don't know if it will look "classic", but it will always be special knowing our loved ones had such a big hand in it.

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  22. I think signature scents are a must for women, and Chanel is a great perfume choice. (I wear Coco Mademoiselle!) xo style, she wrote

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  23. Love the idea of a signature scent but I am a scent hound...I just can't seem to stick with one. Maybe that is b/c I haven't found THE PERFECT one?

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  24. I completely agree. I kept mine fairly elegant & classy to stand the test of time. I adore all the barn style weddings & boot-wearing bride's with indie style receptions, but I kept thinking that I could do that for any birthday party of mine any year. When else do you get the chance to wear a stunning gown & throw a really classy affair? I don't think I'll get that chance again.

    ~ Clare x

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  25. Oh a classic wedding is the best...beautiful forever!!

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  26. Well said, Lena! We strive to paint unique, timeless events for our couples and really {I mean really} challenge them to get innovative and dig deep. I look back on our wedding and just love how timeless it was. I'll cherish that forever and won't think "that was so 2003."

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  27. What a beautiful entry. Although I love the look of those Anthropologie-inspired receptions, I would have a more classic look for myself. For one, I'm Indian-American, and so I'd want to have elements of both cultures represented, and the rustic-chic in combination just wouldn't (unfortunately) work.

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  28. Hopefully we never get tired of the small detailed gorgeous things that make weddings so wonderful and traditional...I know I never will :)
    xoxo
    Olivia

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  29. So true, it is often difficult to stick to your own voice even in such special things such as a wedding. Hope you are having a lovely Monday, xoxo

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  30. OK This is going to be a lengthy comment because it is so fitting to a conversation I just had with a potential client. I said to her, "If you are looking for me to do something that everyone else does, I am not your planner. I want you to look back at your wedding day and see a reflection of who you both were at the time, and not what was dictated to you by the big wedding blogs or magazines. You have to see you 50 years from now and not a passing fancy you felt you had to succumb to in order to be in or published." I am in love with this post because I am not a "fad" lover. My home isn't, my way of dressing isn't, and neither is my way of designing an event. Now with that being said, if a client wants something she saw in a mag or a blog, and she's hell bent on having that look, I can replicate it but it will not be me at my creative best. You hit the nail on the head with this post and I agree with Jacin & I agree with Aleah. Brilliant post from a brilliant woman. Bravo my dear for such an on time post! P.S. Ummm not for nothing but that image is stunning and a fave of mine! xo

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  31. here here!

    that's what makes life so much more interesting and my job so worth doing - uniqueness! Down with mason jars! *unless you must :)

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  32. Really thoughtful post. As I am in the midst of wedding planning right now I am trying really hard not to be too overly influenced by trends. But it is very difficult...thank you for sharing this.

    www.featherfactor.com

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  33. What a great post! And I love reading everyone's comments. I often look at gorgeous weddings and think, oh I wish I had that cute touch or I wish my wedding was trendier but it's so true that some of these things are such a passing fad. My wedding was simple and very me and although I can't say that I thought much about what I would think of it in 50 years, I hope that because I put a lot of thought and effort into it at the time, that I will appreciate it as I get older.

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  34. What a fantastic point! One really positive aspect of all the wedding trend and wedding planning culture is that there are, indeed, lots of great opportunities and ideas out there for the couple to make it their own.

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  35. good point for sure. But thats were I love to see weddings with awesome details about the couple like.. such and such was held in an art studio becuase they first met at one.. things like that. it may LOOK the same but the couple knows whats there to make it personal to them :)

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  36. leave it to miss lena to write the most eloquent, relevant, and lovely advice on this topic written to date. no really. i am bookmarking this for the future :)

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  37. So wise,darling..I'd really like to find inspiration looking at many classic and evergreen weddings,but with a touch of something personal..What I see, is a lot of clone-brides! Weddings without personality,made up to follow a trend setting..maybe somebody thinks that classy=boring! Mmmm..I guess they will look back in 10 years and ask:WHY?!
    Love.
    Laura@RicevereconStile

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  38. I feel like blogs are just giving me a (good) slap in the face today! I love where I am in life right now for the same reasons I dislike it; as much as I hate moving from place to place every year and not having a "home", I also love the ability to live all over the city and reinvent where I stay each time. I feel like I am honing my signature style more and more, and not having the budget to simply buy everything out of a catalog has certainly helped me figure out what I actually like; nothing makes me feel more proud or resourceful than knowing that I could just put a chair on my credit card but I'd rather reupholster one myself.

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  39. Oh I agree! As much as I love reading wedding blogs and looking at all the pretty pictures - most of them are just not for me. And I have seen my fair share of rustic-chic barn weddings and thought 'who are all these girls getting married in cowboy boots?'
    Then again, tjhat might also be because I have never set foot in America so I don't really know what you guys wear over there ;)

    Think I'll probablt end up with some gypsy wedding with a roaring fire and food cooked by my mom and aunt celebrating all night in the midnight sun :)

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  40. So so true! It is hard to imagine that some of the things we love so much will eventually look dated. Some of it is trend, some of it just a sign of the times. I tried so hard to stay away from things that would date our wedding but the tastes change and time passes so quickly! That being said, I loved everything I put into it so if it's passe let it be :)

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  41. I could not agree with you more. It's hard to avoid being swept up in the well-documented trends. But with weddings, as with all things, trends come and go, but true style remains.

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  42. your blog should be a must for any future wife.... so brilliant!!!

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  43. I think classic works for some people, and some people really like the trendy stuff. What is important is to go for the thing that feels most like you, no matter if it is classic and will look stunning in 50 years or not. If you love it now, no matter what it is, then it is your dream wedding I guess.

    That said, my taste tends to be rather classic, with most things, and that includes the wedding. I am not really that familiar with wedding trends anyway, so I never even thought of that while planning mine.

    So I agree, but just when it comes to me. I think everyone should get to live out their dreams on their wedding day, no matter what they may be at the time.

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