Ready, Set, Charger Plates!

Bubble Charger Plates (http://www.jafgifts.com/BUBBLE-CHARGER-PLATES_106522.html)

Words cannot describe my love for a good table arrangement at a wedding. As simple a task this may seem, it seriously takes some brain work. I usually like to think of a table in layers, and to me, like a cake, the more layers the better. Most venues throw in white or ivory linens, these are your standard white table cloths and napkins. I personally think even one additional linen or accessory can really add to the over look of the table, and therefore the overall feel of the entire space. Table runners, overlays, matching napkins and napkin rings all fall under this category. Charger plates are a whole category on their own.

Lime Green Charger Plates (http://beautifulblooms.com/blog/2010/04/davids-bar-mitzvah-part-2/)

The first time I really noticed charger plates was on "Wedded To Perfection", where Jung Lee used eyeball charger plates, I died! Wow, I thought it was just the coolest thing I had ever seen. Unfortunately I have searched the net far and wide for a picture of these, to no avail. I will keep trying.

Gold Charger Plates to compliment a Mardi Gras Theme (http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2009/02/tablescape-thursdayora-mardi-gras.html)

Charger plates are generally placed at the table before guests arrive and meant to have china placed on top of them when the meal comes, almost like a place mat. They are typically not meant to be eaten of of, nor put in the dishwasher. They are considered more of a decor item than dishware.

A gorgeous glowing creation by Jun Lee of New York based event company, Fête (http://feteny.com/services/)

Charger plates, as beautiful as they are, will cost you a pretty penny if you're not much for shopping. Some wedding forums have discussions of women buying them in packages at Target, Superstore or Michael's. These will be acrylic and not glass, ceramic or wood, but they will cost you far less than buying these more expensive one's or renting them. Most rental places charge you starting at $3.25 a plate - add that up and you will see how much that is. Purchasing your own set of 100+ ceramic, wood, glass or metal charger plates will be even more than that, upwards of $60 per plate! Yikes! So what am I saying? Even if you hate shopping around, shopping for charger plates is worth it. I found several sites that sell them in multitudes of colours and textures in bulk, 24 plates for under $50! Now we're talking. Do not underestimate the power of online shopping, it could save you literally thousands on your wedding!

By the masters of all things event - New York based company, Fête (http://feteny.com/services/)

Now all the grooms-to-be are grumbling that their bride now needs "just one more thing" for their wedding to make it picture perfect! Sorry guys...but not really.

Eek! My favorite - a Bird Nest Charger from Pottery Barn (http://www.potterybarn.com/?cm_type=gnav)

Boozy Bride

Photo credit: istockphoto

Don't. Be. A. Boozy. Bride. I know, I know, people who know me and are reading this will be thinking "well, isn't that strange advice for Brittany of all people to be giving", referencing my close relationship with red wine, tequila and vanilla vodka, but that's at OTHER people's weddings, not my own you sillies. Bottom line, this is one of the most magical days of your life and you will want to remember the special speeches people say to you, visiting with relatives you haven't seen in ten years and the sweet nothings your new husband whispers in your ear during dinner. Being completely inebriated at your own wedding is something that you cannot take back. Please know the difference between tipsy and hideously drunk.

I was at a wedding a few weekends ago, talking to the DJ and he was telling me about a bride who he DJ'd for the weekend before and she was so utterly intoxicated she was sick all over herself and had to be loaded into the back of pick up truck to be escorted home. Can you imagine leaving your wedding like that? Livestock was the one word that came to mind, ha ha...

But seriously, enjoy yourself, have some bubbly, a splash of wine but please oh please, do not be a Boozy Bride.

Dress Rehearsal

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

As much as people say cliché things like “it’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage” et al, really, if you have chosen to have a wedding, white dress, cake and music, the dress actually is one of the centerpieces of the big day. There are a few big things to keep in mind when wedding dress shopping.

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

I PVR literally every episode of Say Yes to The Dress, whether they are reruns or not, as I just adore the team that works at Kleinfeld’s, they are truly masters in the business. I have learned a lot about dresses, designers, price tags, people and their bargaining ways, alterations and the do’s and don’ts at bridal salons and just some basic etiquette.

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

Tip one – don’t expect your perfect dress to be off the rack. Plan for it to require ordering, this can take 6 months, and it does vary by store, then alterations and fittings once the dress arrives. If you wait until the last minute you will be charged for rush ordering.

Tip two – NEVER buy a dress that is way too small in hopes of losing weight. Unless you know a tried and true way to shed those pounds this is too risky and taking a dress in is less expensive and less destructive to the design of the dress than letting a dress out if you do not lose the weight. I was appalled recently at a bridal store here in town telling one of my brides to get the smaller size as she’ll lose the weight. No one knows this for sure and I thought of it as a very unprofessional suggestion. Also, pay no attention the numbered size on the dress – if you look and feel spectacular in the dress then that is the one – don’t fuss over whether it is a larger or smaller size than what you normally wear.

Tip three – I usually tell a bride to know the vision, theme and hopefully the venue to make sure the dress fits this overall theme. A ball-gown dress doesn’t really suit a wedding in a rustic barn.

Tip four - Have some kind of idea what you would like to look at. Neckline, hemline, colour, fabric, intricate or traditional, give something for the consultant to go on or you will be trying on the dresses all day, and they are a LOT of work to get in and out of.

Tip five - Never go into a bridal salon after the gym, after a night on the town, or when you are recovering for the flu. Try and look decent for this big occasion, maybe do your hair nice, put on some make-up and bring a pair of shoes similar to the one’s you are thinking of for your big day. It’s hard to visualize what you will really look like in that dress if you could be mistaken for Courtney Love.

Isn't Randy just the cutest thing!? I think it's a keeper!

{photo credit: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress/}

Walking in my Shoes

Okay, okay, so the title of this post was stolen from Depeche Mode, but it has nothing to do with their song. I am here to say, while you may not be judged by the shoes you choose to walk in on your wedding day, you certainly will be photographed in them! Fashion comes before comfort until the photo shoot has wrapped, so please make sure to choose wisely.

{photo credit: http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/}

My friend Danielle (she's a shoe junkie, check out her new blog: http://deathbyshoe.com/) just HAD to have something fabulous, and while I won't reveal a price tag on these babies, let's just say it'd be my electric, cellphone, cable and daycare bills all rolled into one, but really - can you tell me her stunning blue satin Christian Louboutin's aren't worth it? I believe she actually quoted that they were "the stars of the show", although I would like to think everyone else knew better! And here they are my friends:

Okay, so maybe they were the stars of the show! They were well captured anyways by Calgary photographer, Chelsea at Shutterbird Photography (http://www.shutterbird.ca/).

Footwear photo's are a huge trend in wedding photography right now and a wedding album is just not complete without a few whimsical shots of the kicks you have chosen. This post could literally go on for days with the number of incredible shoe shots out there, so I will choose just ten and count down to my all time favorite shot, it won't be easy but here it goes, enjoy my fashionista friends!

ten

{photo credit http://www.ourlaboroflove.com/}

Ah, an ode to cowtown, one of my favorite pairs of shoes in my closet are my cowboy boots. This photo is so gorgeous it has a light, vintage country feel to it, the chestnut boots complement the uniform blue dresses wonderfully, and unlike some other cowboy boot pictures I found, these are really showcased in a tea-length bridesmaid frock. Not only are these unique and photograph beautifully, they sure as heck are good for a whole night of dancing (I would know!).

nine

{photo credit: http://www.nataliemoserphotography.com/}

This pair of beautiful feet grabbed my attention, and I don't know if it was the reflective sheen of the grooms patent leather or the chic hippy satin shoes of the bride, but I love this shot. It was taken in Orange County by the very talented Natalie Moser. The wedding was outdoors with shades of green and purple, accented with black and white. Lovely shot, I love how the colours are tweaked just enough to get that warm summer haze feeling. Those shoes are to die for and I might need to go on a hunt for them when my time comes!

eight

{photo credit: http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/}

Susan Stripling lives in Brooklyn, New York and therefor shoots some in Brooklyn as well as all over the New York City area. Why do I mention this? Because I can't think of anything more modern or fashion forward than a New York bride! That being said, this photo with the reflection of the bride's gorgeous ivory satin peep toes is gorgeous, the fabric textures paired with an old family portrait are so vintage chic and I love the warm colours. A great creative view of the shoes the bride will wear while promising her life to her new husband.

seven

{photo credit: http://patricialyonsphotography.blogspot.com/}

No other favored shoe choice of mine will get me more grumbles than the love-to-hate UGG boot, but this is my blog and so I get to choose, he he. There is no other shoe in my closet I love more than my chocolate brown UGGS that Josh bought for me a few Christmases ago. They are cozy, soft and comfortable, and honestly, I actually don't think they are ugly at all. If I were to have a winter wedding there would be no other shoes I would rather wear than my beloved UGG boots, see how cute and cozy they look? Love them or loathe them, at least this bride will be band aid free by the end of the night!

six

{photo credit: http://www.pkphotovideo.com/}

Wow, what a bride to pick such a bubbly and very fittingly themed shoe for her big day! These are just about the cutest shoes I could imagine and Peter Kelk of Maldon, Essex photographed these hot little Vivienne Westwood numbers beautifully!

five

{photo credit: http://leodjphoto.com/}

I adore couples who don't take themselves or their wedding day too seriously, besides, it is about the couple, who they are as a team and who they will be as they grow old together. These timeless and oh so comfy Converse sneaks make for a happy bridal party and fun and whimsical images of the big day.

four

{photo credit: http://gabrielryan.blogspot.com}

My obsession with the apple green wedding shoe began long ago when I started seeing shoes in the bridal scene that were different from the traditional white or ivory. For a long time I thought apple green shoes would do it for me on my big day, who knows really as I change my mind about colour palette's every day, but this image is just gorgeous. You can sense calm, yet a great anticipation of what's to come, just with the slight bend of the ankles.

three

{photo credit: http://blog.halbergphotographers.com/}

In the last few years, feathers have taken the wedding industry by storm. Fascinators are the must have item, clutches with peacock feathers adorning them, huge plumes of ostrich feather bouquets as centerpieces and even the wedding dress industry has caught the feather fever creating fun and floaty wedding gowns. One thing I have not seen a lot of yet is feathers hanging out on shoes. This may be because of the impracticality of keeping feathers clean, but it is after all "just one day" as everyone will keep reminding you!

two

{photo credit: http://www.klkphotography.com/}

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Well these gorgeous, vintage inspired pumps can take care of several of these items! Not only are these a fun and bright colour, coordinating with the satin ribbon on her bouquet, but they are a lower heel so the comfort factor is there, which is always an issue. Buying fancy, expensive shoes is one thing, but keeping them on is another! I think this bride did a great job in choosing her peep toes!

one

{photo credit: http://www.jenstewartphotography.com}

Well, here it is - the number one image in wedding footwear that I found. I chose this pair of "glass slippers" because I find it the epitome of a little girl dreaming to one day to be just like Cinderella and find her Prince Charming. While they may not be breathable or even very comfortable, they sure do make for a beautiful shot and quite the statement on your big day.

Well, there you have it, my top ten (actually, eleven if you count Danielle's pretties!) wedding shoes and wedding shoe images. As you can see, not all of these are big designer labels, that is not always what counts. Sometimes it's just a vibrant colour or hypnotic pattern that will make you know that pair of shoes is "the one".