Guest Blogging with Michael O'Connor {Jewelry and Style Expert}

This morning, we're joined by Michael O'Connor who will be sharing tips for finding the perfect bridal party jewels, along with some photos from the Platinum Guild International's web site.

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It's your posse, your gal pals who've been there for you. This milestone in your lives together should be marked with a keepsake worthy of the occasion. There is no better gift than jewelry to convey how you feel about these important women in your life.
The tradition of buying gifts for wedding attendants dates back to ancient times when Egyptian noble women presented precious metals and gems to their ladies-in-waiting.

The pieces you choose are as unique and precious as the women you ask to stand up for you. About 60% of brides give jewelry as attendant gifts, with necklaces and earrings most popular for about three quarters of brides surveyed. More than a quarter of brides choose bracelets.

There's so much you can say with fine jewelry that will last a lifetime, from gem-set earrings that pair the bride's birthstone with that of her attendants to delicate pearl spacer or lariat necklaces on platinum chain to special charms signifying hobbies or traits. 

Initial charm pendants and beautiful lockets—perfect for a fun photo of you and your bridesmaid or even a tiny thank-you inside—are top jewelry choices with a personal touch. You also might consider starting a charm or bead bracelet for each attendant. Stud, drop or hoop style earrings are popular jewelry gifts as well. These timeless gifts will be instant classics for your bridesmaids.

You could always custom design a piece like celebrity bridal blogger Jen Schefft (of The Bachelorette fame), who connected with jewelry designer Erin Gallagher to create pearl bracelets for her bridesmaid and herself.

The trend for 2010 encourages brides to allow their bridesmaids to pick a dress appropriate for their individual body type in a chosen color, a range of shades or whatever hue is hot. This trend evokes an eclectic vibe in the look of the bridal party that really speaks to the significance of customization in our mature consumer market.

Thankfully, bridesmaid dresses no longer frighten away perspective attendants with scary, costumey styles. Overall, the dresses are getting shorter, brighter and lighter. In 2010, look for bold colors like plum, amethyst dark green, and blue, even bright girly hues like hot pink and orange. In jewelry, a range of gems would coordinate well with these colors including quartz, beryl, and garnet varieties.

Also trending in bridesmaid fashion is the wrap dress with a crisscross neckline and asymmetrical one-shoulder looks that bode well for statement earrings; drop-waist flapper-styles ideal for long pearl or chain necklaces; and lighter, more casual fabrics inspiring delicate, classic jewelry styles.

I advocate buying these special women the best that you can and something that will constantly remind them of your friendship. Therefore, platinum jewelry is my choice for special jewelry gifts. Just like their friendship, it's rare (30 times more rare than gold) and will never lose its luster over time. Because platinum jewelry is generally 95% pure, unlike 18k-gold that is only 75% pure, it is hypoallergenic. Also, its density and weight make it more durable than other jewelry metals, holding stones securely in their settings and meaning that it won't wear down over a lifetime of wear like other jewelry metals.

You may think platinum is out of reach for your budget, but many of today's leading designers are creating beautiful platinum pieces, perfect for special gifts like this, for only a few hundred dollars. While platinum may be more slightly more expensive than gold, and often the differential is small, it provides the best value for your money.

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Thank you Michael for joining us today and for sharing these great tips and trends with my readers.

Guest Blogging with Jessica of A Foxy Wedding

I'm super excited today to welcome Jessica of A Foxy Wedding to the blog. She will be guest blogging and sharing with you her photos and details from her attendance at the many fashion shows this past week in NYC for Bridal Market. So here we go with lots of stunning photos and wonderful trends to keep your eyes on...

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Thank you for inviting me to post about 2010 Spring Bridal Market on Brenda's Wedding Blog! It was my first time at market as press instead of as a buyer for my bridal shop, and it was a vastly different experience.  As a buyer/owner, I was focused on what gowns I thought would be best for my customers and my price point. As press, my attention was geared towards seeing as many collections as I could while keeping track of trends and reporting back. It was a lot of fun talking it all in and seeing the bigger picture unfold over the course of my time in New York.
Design elements I saw consistently included soft color, flowers, feminine asymmetrical necklines, tulle, ruffles, feathers, belts, lush draping, and a return of the ball gown. With the return of the ball gown silhouette, an emphasis on the fit and cut of the bodice was also apparent. Sweetheart necklines, asymmetrical straps, and gauzy shrugs highlight a woman’s silhouette, allowing the proportion of the skirt to the waist to be showcased at its best. For Spring 2010, there is an abundance of it!
Gowns with a slimmer skirts were also shown, but not as dominantly as in past seasons. Often, the narrower silhouettes had an echo of fullness communicated through tulle overlays and additional details like ruffles, feathers on the skirt, or a voluminous train.
Details such as belts, corsages, and detachable overlays that can be used in several gowns within a collection were also prevalent. This increased versatility allows for brides to customize their gowns, making each one unique as well as allowing for more variety within a designer's collection.
Overall, the gowns shown for Spring 2010 had a gracious, uplifting quality that was inspiring, serene, and dreamy. It was a pleasure seeing them all, and I can't wait to see some of those marvelous gowns on brides in the next year!

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A very special thank you to Jessica of A Foxy Wedding for writing today and sharing all the scoop on the Spring 2010 Bridal Fashions for my readers. Jessica Fox is an entrepreneur with over 10 years of small business experience in the wedding industry.  She formerly owned one of the leading bridal boutiques in the Washington, DC area until 2009, and she is now a freelance writer specializing in blogging and social media services. She is a contributing blogger at Wedding Aces and authors Foxy Wedding, her own blog on all things wedding.

the following article is courtesy of Cassie Dean from www.WeddingInNewYork.com
the images are copyright www.bouquetjewels.com
Bouquet jewelry has become the hot new bridal accessory for your bridal bouquets this season. This new fashion trend allows brides to personalize their bouquet in an entirely new way!

Bridal bouquet jewels vary in size, shape and price. For a touch of glamour, a few crystals placed throughout the bouquet will add the perfect sparkle.

For an elegant look, choose from varying shades of pearl. For a touch of tradition, add a crystal monogram using you and your husband’s initials.

For sentimental purposes, you add the initials of a lost loved one. This is a simple way to include their memory in your walk down the aisle.

To add a hint of fun to your bouquet, many companies offer a selection of jewels in the shape of animals, hearts, flowers, bows, and beach related items.

The jewelry is often inserted into the center of each flower using a wired post, but may also be attached to the stem and accompanying ribbon.

Bridal bouquet jewelry is not limited to only the bride's bouquet, but may also be used to add a little something extra to bridesmaid's flowers, boutonnieres, table centerpieces, bridal party hair styles, and even the wedding cake!

Bouquet jewelry is a relatively inexpensive way to create a unique and personalized touch to your special day. They can also be used long after your wedding in other floral arrangements and special occasion centerpieces!
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Thank you Cassie (from Wedding In New York) for a wonderful article and be sure to visit Bouquet Jewels for even more bridal bouquet jewelry options and gorgeous photos.

Are you looking for a unique way to symbolize your marriage? You may want to consider a unity sand ceremony to represent the joining of you and your fiance. According to Danielle at The Wedding Outlet, "There are many advantages to a unity sand ceremony - you'll have a timeless piece to keep, plus you won't have to worry about keeping a unity candle lit (especially if you are opting for an outdoor wedding)".

For those of you that may not be familiar with how a Sand Ceremony works, Danielle joins us today from The Wedding Outlet to share the details:

You will start out with 3 vases (more if including the priest or children). The center vase is the largest as this is the one that will have the sand poured into it by all participants. For the sand, many opt to select a different color for each participant.
Step 1: The groom will begin pouring a portion of his sand into the center vase
Step 2: The bride then pours a portion of her sand into the center vase, creating a layered effect
Step 3: The bride and groom will then simultaneously pour the sand into the center vase

There are variations to these steps, some of which might be:
• Some couples choose to repeat Steps 2 and 3 from above to create multiple sand layers
• Some choose to include the priest in the sand ceremony to symbolize the union with their faith. The priest would follow Step 2 above.
• And, if you have children, you might want to symbolize the joining of both families by having each child pour sand into the center vase. Children would follow Step 2 above.

The end result is a beautiful vase filled with sand that symbolizes your marriage and will be a memory of your wedding day forever. And, many of the Sand Ceremony kits at The Wedding Outlet have the option of personalizing the large center glass vases with names and wedding date.

Is anybody opting for a unity sand ceremony instead of the traditional unity candle lighting? Please share with us.

I'd like to thank Cori at Elegala for emailing me over the following information on the top 2009 trends for wedding flowers. What flowers are you planning to use for your wedding? I'd love to hear.

from Elegala . . .
Today's brides are following the old adages, "less is more" and "use your imagination". The sayings may be cliche – but the latest trends in wedding flowers are anything but.

Daring Colors:
Gone are the days of adhering to light pastels and muted shades in wedding decorations. Today's brides are opting for bold and interesting pairings of colors in their wedding flowers and floral schemes. Not afraid of mixing purples and orange's, the post-millennium color palette is expanding.

More than Just Flowers:
Mix it up a bit by incorporating produce. One of the hot trends in wedding flowers is arrangements featuring fruits, herbs and even veggies as a playful and fun approach. Their naturally vibrant colors coincide with the daring color trend. Many brides are also turning to the woods for inspiration. Green grasses add dimension and structure and can elicit a warm, summery feeling.

Dynamic Tables:
Table arrangements are also becoming more dynamic. Instead of conforming to identical floral arrangements on each table, some brides are using different containers, varying the heights, or grouping an assortment of low centerpieces together.

Keep it Simple:
Gone are the days of overpowering floral arrangements adorned with excess filler flowers. Today's brides opt for a more natural and tailored look to their wedding flowers. One bouquet style rising in popularity is the hand tied bouquet. The fresh bunch of flowers presents the look of simple elegance that brides desire.

Above information courtesy of Cori at Elegala.com (online site for Gala Weddings Magazine) All images from Elegala.com's photo gallery.