All-White Weddings, Crystal and Silver Accents, Larger–than-Life Centerpieces,
& Vintage-Inspired Wedding Gowns will be amongst the hottest trends for 2012

Brides' fantasy weddings came to life as The Wedding Salon in New York unveiled the ultimate in weddings for 2012. The Wedding Salon showcased the trends that will take over weddings in the upcoming year including all-white weddings, crystal accents, vintage-inspired gowns and more.

Design by Shawn Rabideau, Photo by Spelman Studios

"We were thrilled to showcase some of the most over-the-top glamorous trends in weddings for 2012! The Wedding Salon came to life with fantasy reception tables, a couture fashion show and the top names in the industry including Colin Cowie, Carlo’s Bakery of Cake Boss, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and St. Regis” says Wedding Salon Founder and renowned Celebrity Event Planner, Tatiana Byron.

The Wedding Salon showed that “Glamour is back for 2012” with numerous event designers showcasing the all-white wedding with silver and crystal accents. David Tutera showcased this trend with an elaborate table designed for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. This sky-high centerpiece featured white orchids and white ostrich feathers dripping with crystals accented with touches of silver. Gabriela Wakeham stayed on point with her all-white wedding table with silver accents creating a chandelier-inspired table with orchid and crystal garlands floating from a chandelier structure over a base of white orchids and hydrangea accented by silver linens. Honora Winery also sought inspiration from the all-white wedding creating a tree-like structure with crystals & branches stretching toward the ceiling, filled with all-white roses.

Design by Honora Winery, Photo by Spelman Studios

Victorian Elegance and Old-Hollywood Glamour were other trends seen at The Wedding Salon. Celebrity Event Planner, Shawn Rabideau looked to the Victorian Age as inspiration for his reception table.  Rabideau used English Lace, Lily of the Valley and white roses with lavender accents for his English-Royalty-Inspired reception table. Thru the Looking Glass looked to Old Hollywood Glamour for their black-and-white table with white roses, silver and crystal accents.

Jenny Yoo wowed brides with a couture bridal fashion show showcasing their vintage-inspired form-fitting looks for the timeless bride. Jenny Yoo also unveiled a series of tea-length wedding gowns with lace detailing for the 2012 bride.  The colors of the rainbow will be all the rage for bridesmaids in 2012 with Jenny Yoo highlighting ruby red, deep blues, silver and orange shades of bridesmaid gowns.

Showing that a beach honeymoon will never go out of style, The Wedding Salon featured the biggest names in Destination Weddings and Honeymoons including St. Regis Bora Bora, The St. Lucia Tourism Board, Guatemala  and The Mexico Tourism Board highlighting Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende & Cancun as the ultimate go-to destinations in 2012.

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As soon as I saw Tiffany of Tiffany Wayne Photography post this wedding, I knew it was a must feature for all my readers. I instantly fell in love with every part of this wedding - especially the brides wedding dresses {there were 2 of them}. The first one that the bride, Jen, wore to walk down the aisle in was actually the wedding dress of her great, great grandmother. SWOON. How special is that? And, it's the perfect dress for this 1920s themed wedding. Just wait until you see the bridal party in their vintage inspired makeup and dresses. DOUBLE SWOON. So enough with the chatting - I have to start showing the photos . . .

Time for the second wedding dress - another amazing design.

So cute - little leaves on champagne glass

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Tiffany Wayne Photography
Venue: Saratoga National
Makeup: Kaitlin Bray, Kaitlin Marion Aesthetics
Hair: Lauren Osterhout, Bliss Salon
DJ: Jeff Richards, Piano Man
Florist: Binley Florist and Garden Center

CHALLENGE GUIDELINES . . .
color palette: red, orange and brown
theme: bridal shower or wedding

I can't believe it, but it's already time for the October Wedding Vendor Challenges {if you are interested in signing up for challenges starting again in January, please let me know, I'd love to have you}. To kick things off this month - I have a lovely eco-vintage shoot from eco-stylist Michelle Savin. In this bridal shower inspired shoot Michelle decided to go vintage and use the natural colors from apples and pears. Invite Site provided paper free invitations that a bride can actually create herself. 

The location brought this fall bridal shower to the sea, at McKenna's on the Bay in Long Beach, CA. Michelle used a beautiful birch centerpiece by Nisie's Enchanted Florist. Natural wicker, autumn orange glassware, and natural palm wax candles from the Goodlight Natural Candles gave the table an autumn glow. The orange glassware illuminated with good ol’ fashioned sweet tea to accompany. 

The rich pomegranate red juice was presented in an antique milk jar, which Michelle found at a local vintage shop, along with much of the wood pieces. Michelle used many varieties of apples and pears to achieve color in her presentation. For dessert she presented minature wedding cakes, a cake trifle, and candied apples from Creatively Caramel.  In this vendor challenge, Michelle proves that not everything has to be brand new for your bridal event and color can be achieved from natural sources.  

Vendor Credits:
Eco Stylist: Michelle Savin
Bridal Shower Invitations: Invite Site
Venue: McKenna's on the Bay
Event planner: Debbie Haggar and Christine Davies of McKenna's on the Bay
Birch flower arrangement: Nisie's Enchanted Florist
Candied Apples: Janine at Creatively Caramel
Minature cakes and trifle: Michelle Dozal
Palm Wax Candles: Goodlight Candle Company
Vintage finds: Orange Avenue Estate Salvage and Garden
Photography: property of Michelle Savin

In case you missed it over the weekend, the April Wedding Vendor Challenge is underway and all week long I have brand new inspirational photo shoots to share with you. This month the vendor teams worked with the color palette of bubblegum pink, mint green and robin's egg blue. For April, I asked vendors to create a bridal shower tablescape with a dessert display and like the previous challenges, there will be at least one DIY provided.

Today's beautiful vintage glam bridal shower features the talents of Sandra Downie Event Designs, Sassy Mouth Photography and Sweet SugarBelle. The lovely centerpiece features tulips, hyacinths and snapdragons. I love the pastel flower touches throughout and the Bride-to-be sign below is so cute to mark where the guest of honor will be sitting. {for me, the ruffles on the bottom of the sign resemble a garter, I love that little touch}

LOVING the engagement diamond napkin ring.

DIY DOWNLOAD FREEBIE: Sandra of Sandra Downie Paperie Studio has offered the Pretty in Pink Drink Flags as a download today. Simply print out the Pretty in Pink Drink Flags from Scribd, trim and attached around your drink stirrers or straws and you're good to go. {the download link at Scribd is directly underneath the item's title in the right column}

Wedding Vendors:
Project Design and Coordination: Sandra Downie Events
Paperie & Paper Accessories: Sandra Downie Paperie Studio
Photography: Sassy Mouth Photography
Cookies: Sweet SugarBelle

A special treat for you this weekend - I'm starting the kick-off of the April Wedding Vendor Challenge on a Saturday and each day from now thru Friday you will see some wonderful inspiration for spring bridal showers {+ the ideas can easily be implemented for weddings or parties of any kind too}. This months color palette was bubblegum pink, mint green and robin's egg blue. I asked vendors to create a bridal shower tablescape with a dessert display and just like the other challenges, there will be at least one DIY provided.

Today I begin with a vintage circus themed bridal shower - which I just think this is the cutest idea. This shoot features the talent of Maria from StudioSister Photography, Samantha of Papermints, Krissy from Make Believe'N, Stephanie of La Coco Rouge and Amanda of Artisan Maskers.

Maria created the theme based on the color palette and those colors were the inspiration for this carnival of candy and circus of sweets, with a soft feminine touch. The fun and flirty bouquet from Krissy of Make Believe'N resembles a big round stick of cotton candy - perfectly fitting the carnival/circus theme. The incredible handcrafted flowers made an ideal centerpiece for such a playful table. PS: This Japan Cherry Blossom bouquet is part of the Etsy Wedding Team charity drive where etsy shop artists are dedicating sales for relief efforts in Japan. Each flower is made of silky satin and complimenting patterned paper to represent the petals of a cherry blossom. You can purchase the bouquet here.

Maria writes . . . the table displayed an array of desserts and candies, including jelly beans, salt water taffy, rock candy, cotton candy and cupcakes, all in coordinating colors to follow the established palette. The cupcakes were made with a strawberry cake recipe and buttercream frosting, then topped with either blue sugar crystals or pink glitter gel. Cupcake toppers (and all paper goods) were created by Papermints.

EASY DIY: The pink and white cupcake stand above was created out of a candlestick and a plate, some epoxy glue and pink paint.

EASY DIY: the cupcake carousel was created out of an easter egg holder (from Target) accented by candy sticks with attached carousel animals.

Mint green material was used for the tablecloth, as well as the chair cover. The chair was also accented with a plaid-patterned bow, which complemented the plaid/gingham print plates, cupcake wrappers and masquerade mask. All of the fabric was purchased from Jo-Ann Fabric in the clearance section.

Maria says no bridal shower is complete without delicious drinks. A pink lemonade cocktail was also displayed on the table, in a large glass pitcher, as well as a wine glass at the Bride-to-be's table setting. Fresh-cut lemons really make this drink look delectable. Set to the side is a bin full of ice cold glass bottle sodas {shown above}. Now doesn't that bring back great childhood memories?

DIY DOWNLOADABLE GOODIE: Samantha of Papermints has offered the Vintage Circus printable cucpake toppers as a download which can then be used as either toppers or tags. Simply print out the Vintage Circus Toppers and/or Tags from Scribd, trim and you're good to go. {the download link at Scribd is directly underneath the item's title in the right column}

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer and Designer: Maria Healey of StudioSister Photography
Invitation and Paper Goods Designer: Samantha of Papermints
Floral Artist: Krissy of Make Believe'N
Cream Mini Top Hat: Stephanie of La Coco Rouge
Papier-mache Masquerade Mask: Amanda of Artisan Maskers