While the trend in recent years has been to forego the veil, or minimize it at best, both celebrity brides like Anne Hathaway and Natalie Portman as well as couture brides everywhere are reviving the art of the show-stopping veil. 

Left to Right: Temperley London, Pinterest, Want that Wedding

Enter the statement headpieces. If the Oscar de la Renta 2014 Bridal Collection has proven one thing, it’s that the au-natural leanings of yesterday’s weddings are on their way out. In their place, bold and couture looks have taken center stage….floral wreaths (yes leaves and all), feathered birdcages, or a modern Juliet cap. As long as the headpiece complements the style of the gown, go ahead and be bold. Claire Pettibone brought us the all-floral crowns and Reem Acra brought us the parasol veil.  

Left to Right: Carolina Herrera, Reem Acra, Claire Pettibone

Jeweled headbands, you say? More high-class glamour than girly, these decorative bands are your something special, enhancing both an up- or a down-do. An embellished band will add instant sparkle and are especially stunning with a gown that has an understated silhouette or with minimal jewelry. Consider which colors will stand out best against your hair. Lighter stones, such as crystals make a striking statement against dark locks, while jewel tones, like emerald or ruby, perfectly accent blonde hair.

Left to Right: Enchanted Atelier, Pronovias, Renee Pawele Bride (photo by Emma and Josh)

Still love lace? trust me, you are not alone. So does Oscar, Carolina and Vera. Whether it’s simply an embellishment on the edge of a fingertip veil, or an all-lace cathedral veil, romance never goes out of style. 

Left to Right: Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang

From dramatic cathedral veils to bold floral wreaths and jeweled headbands, what 2014 brides need is a stylish veil to complete their look.

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Wedding Veils; the Current Show-Stopper appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Every bride tells her maids that they can “wear the dress again!” And every bridesmaid in history smiles and nods then promptly turns around and rolls her eyes thinking of the dress collecting dust in her closet for the next 20 years. Well ladies, there is a new bridesmaid in town. One who does not match the girl next to her.  One who is not dressed in thick poly-satin from neck to ankle. One who can even wear separates.   And one who can smile knowing, she may actually wear this dress again.

Here are a few that have major drool factor.  I know I am smitten!

Top Left to Right: Kelsey Rose, Alfred Sung, David Meister
Bottom Left to Right: Tadashi Shoji, Tadashi Shoji, Lazaro

If matchy-matchy is not your thing, here are a few great ways to please your bridesmaids but still stay true to your colors.   1.) Choose a style and let them pick each pick different colors in harmony.  2) Choose a fabric type and color and let them choose the style that flatters them best. 3.) Choose a color and have your maids work within the color palette to their taste in any style or fabric . 4) Add a touch of mix and match in shoes, over-ups or other accessories.

Clockwise from Left: Green Wedding, Jarvie Digital Photography, Swan Bridesmaid

Another alternative? Keep the dresses completely uniform, or somewhat uniform and let the bouquets do the talking.

Left to Right: Pinterst, Phylis Lane Photographer

Other popular franchises have launched into the bridal business such as J. Crew, BHLDN from Anthropologie, and The Limited. Easy and accessible and even returnable if your size doesn’t fit! 

Today I raise a toast to bridesmaids everywhere. You work hard, you help plan, cut and stuff not just one envelope but one hundred or more! You stay up late nights writing the perfect speech. You deserve to look your best too! 

The post Wedding Trend Thursday; Bridemaids Dresses You Can Wear Again appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Having said that, I will tell you however, what I think has changed. Vintage has taken on a more sophisticated tone.  I think the new buzzword is “heirloom”.  Great finds from the attic, mementos from parents or grandparents, photos of loved ones remembered and touches of the past will always remain a part of today’s weddings.  So if row boats,  straw hats or old chairs and tables are not for you, don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Consider incorporating just a touch of vintage such as lace invites, vintage stemware on the table settings or a vintage glass chandelier hanging over the seating card table.

Left to Right: Belle the Magazine, Wedding Creators, Project Wedding

Maybe it’s as simple as the chariot you arrived in or will depart in, or the venue that has an old-world charm.  Add a few touches of vintage chic and and you have the perfect amount of heirloom to add to your modern fete.  

Left to Right: Maggie Stolzberg Photography, Project Wedding, The Breakers Palm Beach

Today, too, the emphasis is of more of a specific nature, such as time period weddings. Some hot ones are Hollywood Glam from the Forties and Fifties, or a Roaring Twenties, Art Deco look.  This is a great way to vintage-it-up without going down the shabby-chic path.

Top Left to Right: Society Bride, Ines di Santo, Martha Stewart
Bottom Left to Right: Martha Stewart, Helen English, Belle the Magazine

Great hair pieces, veils, hats, jewelry, shoes, gloves and even dresses that make old the new “new.” Keeping it as simple as a vintage wedding gown can transform your walk down the aisle into a beautiful memory plucked from an antique photograph. I think most brides will agree, when it comes to couture, vintage still makes the cut.

Left to Right: Reem Acra, Anna Maier Ulla Maija, Elie Saab for Pronovias, Jenny Packham

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Trending Thursdays: The Vintage Wedding Still Trending appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

To follow up with yesterday’s’ post on the many new and improved uses of video in the wedding world, here’s a little masterpiece that I know you will love.  This short but oh-so-sweet engagement film was scheduled to be shown at Lindsey and Justin’s wedding dinner reception for the very first time.   It played moments before this darling bride and groom welcomed their friends and family to their wedding.  Even they had not seen it yet.   Although Lindsey and Justin knew it was going to be shown, I don’t think they knew just how amazing it would be, and I know all their guests felt the same.  After countless tears were shed during the welcome speech and the toasts that followed, this video was the perfect icing on the cake.

And by the way, I have to tell you, I’ve seen this video half a dozen times and each time I watch it I fall in love a little bit deeper! I don’t know if it’s because of my true love for this special couple or because of the beautiful story told by the the incredibly talented Dorian with Seaglass Studios in this little documented love story. 

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Lindsey and Justin’s Engagement Video appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Left: Jonathan Pitts / Right: Google

In the photos below, the talented work of Maggie Stolzberg and the genuine personalities of the this bride and groom shine through and tell their story beautifully.  But not all photos are this lucky. Not all capture what these did, and imagine how much more like being there it would be, if you could see that first dance, or hear what was said behind the laughter. 

All: Maggie Stolzberg Photography

While video has been on the rise for quite some time, video has most recently become a high priority item, even for weddings on a budget.  Gone are the days of the long boring wedding video. Videographers of today make short films that capture and summarize all the special moments of the day in creative, cinematic style. Not just the typical chronological record of your wedding events, but instead, a meaningful compilation of your wedding day experience.  What’s more, video allows you to later experience what you might have missed, like the expression on his face as you walked down the aisle from afar.  It, of course, has the added benefit of the experience for those who could not attend. 

The latest? The newest uses for video in the wedding world include video save the date announcements, capturing the wedding proposal on film, and slideshows and other homemade video to be shown during the wedding reception.  News at 11. 

Top Left: Mike and Ali / Top Right: Bridal Guide / Bottom: Heide Ryder Photography

Look out, video is back and it’s on the big screen at a living room near you. 

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Trending Thursdays: Today’s Wedding Video appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

It all started with the colored bridal shoe trend. Brides all over the world have been breaking out of the white and ivory shoe market and busting out the brightly colored heels.  It’s fun, edgy and it gives yourself a wider array of shoe options when you allow yourself to add color to the mix.  What once was just an accent color in the flowers or the groom’s bow tie became a welcome pop of color to the feet.  Next came mix-and-match bridesmaid’s shoes for a little rainbow of feet up at the altar.

Top Row Left to Right: Miss Lola, Miss Lola, The Knot
Middle Row Left to Right: Miss Lola, AMB Photo Company, Maggie Stolzberg Photography
Bottom Row Left to Right: Pinterest, The Sweet Ice tea Soiree

And then along came designs from Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Maggie Sottero and others, who brought us the blush pink gown, the ice blue gown, the black and white gown and even the red wedding gown.  Not for the faint at heart, these wedding color trends have opened the door to wedding gown designs in every shade of the spectrum.

Left to Right: Vera Wang, Romona Keveza, Rosa Clara, Oscar de la Renta from the 2013 Collections

And for the ultimate fearless bride… enter patterns.  At first patterns just showed up on gown detail, but soon enough the trend expanded from head to toe and I’m sure it will soon appear on many more wedding gowns-to-be. If you love staying on-trend, you’ll want to keep an eye on these. 

Left to Right: Oscar de la Renta, Douglas Hannant, Rosa Clara Bisel,  BHLDN from the 2013 Collections

We’ve seen everything from chevron to floral prints to stripes showing up all over to the wedding world and making a mark on table linens, cakes, bouquet handles, backdrops, lighting patterns, invitations and envelope liners, just to name a few. Some adventurous brides are even mixing and matching multiple patterns for the ultimate in bravery.

Top Row Left to Right:  Rue Magazine, Decor 8, Pinterest, Martha Stewart
Bottom Row Left to Right: Phylis Lane Photographer, Sweet and Saucy

Tell us what your wedding design plans are.  Will you be incorporating colors and patterns into your wedding or special event? Let us know!

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Trending Thursdays: Color, Prints and Patterns appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Today is the first day of Spring, but for those of us in Florida and the Caribbean it seems that it’s already summer.  Wherever your wedding destination, you will always want to think about your guest’s comfort, especially in the hot summer sun.  A cooling off relief station just might be what Mother Nature ordered.

Clockwise: Left: The Highlife Suite Top Right: The Highlige Suite Bottom Right: Pinterest

When you think of summer weddings, you might picture flowing dresses, light refreshing foods, chill music and strappy sandals to shoes to show off your freshly painted toenails.   These are elements I am able to control, but as a wedding planner, there are unfortunate elements that I can do absolutely nothing about, no matter how much you beg me.

Weather.  It can be your best friend or your worst enemy, but there are always ways to make it work. If you are having a wedding on the beach, it is good to have a few fun and creative ways to beat the heat and make you, your wedding party and your guests as comfortable as possible. Here in Florida we are always prepared for heat, and here a few of the ways I recommend you keep cool.

I love the idea of passing out parasols to shade heads and paper fans to block the sun and create a cool breeze for your beloved guests.  You can also make your program in the shape of a fan- two for the price of one!

Parasols not only allow some relief from the brutal sun, but also serve as décor.  Adorable when bridesmaids shoulder them down the aisle, or when the parasols dot the ceremony seating with splashes of color, creating additional visual appeal.  Not only that, they also make an excellent photo opportunity for you and your groom and the rest of your smiling posse.

A great source for these is Luna Bazaar, who has a huge selection of colors and reasonable prices. Bella Umbrella and Pamela’s Parasols are great choices for monogrammed designs and unique styles.

Top Left: Nickles Photography / Top Middle: Costa Photographers Ltd. / Top Right: Pamela’s Parasols / Middle Row Left: Maggie Stolzberg Photography / Middle Row Right: Leany Ruiz Photography / Bottom Row Left: Jackie Wonder / Bottom Row Right: Lin & Jirsa

Silk, paper, lace, bamboo or straw, fans come in all shapes and sizes and custom colors to coordinate with the rest of your décor.  Accent the Party has a great assortment of different types, as well as the do-it-yourself varieties. 

Top Left: Stephens Cantey Film / Top Middle: Style Me Pretty / Top Right: The Knot / 
Bottom Left: Pinterest  / Bottom Right: The Knot

Using a Chuppah, Gazebo, Canopy or other rooftop structure is an option to help give you and your groom a little bit of shade.  You might want to consider decorating with fabric instead of flowers since many blooms wilt under sunlight.  As beautiful as flowers are, sometimes the clean look of a fabric covered structure is just the right accessory for the picturesque ocean landscape.  If flowers are your thing, you may have to look at setting them up at the last possible moment or using tropical blooms such as Sunflowers, Ginger, Antheriums, Heliconias, Birds of Paradise or various varieties of Orchids that hold up better than the rest.  And note to self; don’t forget to brace the structure securely by digging it well down into the sand and potentially sacrificing a rooftop that could unfortunately cause your structure to come undone on a particularly windy day.  Most professional  florists should be able to provide and decorate one for you, but if they don’t there are a handful of companies that do just this. Keep in mind however, the practicality of renting one from a company located in a town, other than your own.  Here are a few to check out: Arc de Belle, Arc Divine, Happily Ever Chuppah and OC Gazebos.

Top Left:  Christine Kay / Top Right: Kristina’s World / Middle Left: Cynthia Black Officiant Services / Middle Right: The Knot / Bottom Left: Elizabeth Medina / Bottom Right: Pinterest

Other ways to keep guests comfortable?  Don’t forget the bug spray and sunscreen.  Providing cool towelettes and a fresh cucumber or lavender spray is nice touch and another way to keep your guests cool and refreshed at your wedding.  Sunscreen favors are available at Beau Coup.

Top Left: Designs by Jenny / Top Middle: Indy Get Hitched / Top Right: Martha Stewart / Bottom Left: Wedding Party App / Bottom Middle: Wedding Party App / Bottom Right: Pinterest

Look to bottles of water and sunglasses to further personalize your event while helping your guests stay comfortable.  And there’s something about putting on shades to liven up a party. Sunglasses originally distributed to keep your guests from squinting in the sun, will likely resurface after dark, and most guests will take them home after the last song has played.  Canal Stop carries adorable shutter shades and at Crystal Custom you can custom design your own. 

Top Left: Acqua Photo / Top Right: Amanda Pair / Middle Left: Karlin Connell Photography / Middle Right: Mike Larson Inc. / Bottom Left: My Wedding / Bottom Middle: Jet Fete / Bottom Right: Jenny Ebert

At Just Weddings http://www.justweddings.org you can order  water bottles with pretty flourish designs on labels that you can customize with your names. Prefer something more to quench? Lemonade or iced tea station or buckets with ice cold beer is also an option.

Top Left: Maggie Stolzberg Photography / Top Right: Dan Kutrona Photography/ Bottom Left: Bliss Ranch / Bottom Right: The Soda Stand

Another tip for added comfort? On the beach or on the grass, encourage your guests to go barefoot. Have a shoe valet check guest’s shoes or provide baskets of flip-flops or sneakers that double as a favor, for those who want a pair.  And in the case of a beach fete, don’t forget the small towels to brush the sand off when guests exit. Caring Commodities has adorable straw flip flops for $1.50 per pair and other flip flop bargains can be had at Dollar Days.

Top Left: Leany Ruiz Photography / Top Middle: A Dream Wedding by Sharon / Top Right: With This Bling / Bottom Left: Jamilah Photography / Bottom Right: Maggie Stolzberg Photography

And one last thing; don’t forget about yourself! I always tell my brides to choose stylish yet comfortable shoes for walks on sand and grass, make sure to drink a good amount of water before the ceremony, use make-up with sunscreen and apply a light fragrance free sunscreen an hour before putting on the dress. We don’t need a beach bride with a farmer’s tan!

So go ahead and tell the sun just exactly who is boss, and consider taking a walk on the safe side and incorporating these things into your summer wedding regimen.

xx,

 Kiss the Planner

The post Beat the Heat appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

One of my favorite themes to plan and decorate is a shopping theme.  Always a popular theme,  I’ve certainly had the opportunity to hear all the negative concerns about the nature of this particular theme and I’m here to address that. While these may be valid concerns, let’s take a look at this more carefully before giving an adorable shopping theme the ol’ heave-ho!

Shallow, you say?  I’d like to know what teenager (or her mother) that doesn’t like to shop or have new things to wear?  The reality is that most of us are loving it.  Why can’t we embrace our God-given aptitude to find a Chanel handbag for 70% off in a sea of dreadful bags?  And why can’t we be proud of our ability to calculate 30% off of any number and of our effortless dexterity at the sale counter?

Not in the spirit of the day, in the case of a Bat Mitzvah?  While I agree that a Bat Mitzvah ceremony is a young girl’s right of passage, I also believe that having a fun theme party at the reception in order to celebrate this wonderful time in her life, is equally her right of passage!

Take a look at the Alli Mall that was created for a Bat Mitzvah many years ago for one of my favorite families.  And to prove my point, I can tell you that Alli, the guest of honor, was one of the  sweetest and most unspoiled teenage girls that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

How cute is this?…

A lighted mall directory with a “map” of the mall on one side and a mall advertisement featuring Alli on the other side was placed in the cocktail area so guests could find their seats.  The poster side incorporated a photo of Alli with a headline that read “My idea of being well balanced is having a shopping bag in each hand!”

After cocktails, guests entered the ballroom through framed plexi-glass store front windows with mannequins inside dressed in the latest fashion and signage boasting sales of 13% off.   A giant lighted sign above adorned the Alli Mall logo.

Once inside, guests took their seats at color-coded tables that coordinated with the mall map.  The price tags tied on to the dinner napkins were also color-coordinated with the sashes on the chairs.   Black was used as the color to “anchor” the various colors.

A different store display on each table incorporated the appropriate store merchandise with authentic display pieces made of acrylic and metal that you would see in an actual retail store.  Some of the stores included The Gap, Sunglasses Hut and Hallmark.  It was great fun finding items to place at each display and guests had fun going from table to table to see what each one had.

To keep everyone entertained and to be sure that everyone (and I do mean everyone) found something fun to do.  Guests “shopped” till they dropped… (or at least until the DJ called them back to the dancefloor)….

Allicrombie and Fitch had racks of clothing, as well as fitting rooms, custom shopping bags and t-shirts.  Here guests could pose for a photo to take home.  A pet shop named after the family’s then new puppy, Sandi, was filled with fun pet shop activities such as “create a bear” and “build your own aquarium”.   A games arcade called Alliworks had flashing strobe lights and prizes for those who got high scores on the X-box and other arcade  games.  Where else but at the Salon Alli D. could you go to get “crazy hair” and “hot nails”?  The kids (as well as the grown-up kids) had a ball!

Of course there had to be a food court with authentic plastic trays, ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles, checkered table tops and plastic chairs.  The food selection included yummy S’barros style pasta, Panda Express type Chinese food and Nathan’s-like hot dogs served up by the Diplomat Country Club.   Clearly these were as popular with the adults as they were with the teens.   And lest I forget to mention the Ben and Jerry’s dessert station. 

And if you got tired from all this activity, there were seating areas scattered throughout the ballroom with benches surrounded with foliage for you to sit down and rest upon, just like you would see in a real mall.

Last but not least, there was even an ATM machine with a preprogrammed touch screen.  My favorite entertainer, Paul Anderson from ABC Circus (this guy is such a ham and is so talented) stayed inside the ATM unit all evening that we custom built and talked back to people.   If guests requested money, chewing gum would instead come out the slot. Guests also had the option to request a song or hear a joke.  It was definitely the talk of the party!

Patty Daniels Town and Country Studio took great shots the event through a fish-eye lens to capture all the excitement.  What a fun night!   Just ask Alli, who is now in college but hasn’t forgotten one on the best nights of her life.

The post A Shopping Themed Party appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Photo Credit: Left: KT Merry Photography / Right: Maggie Stolzberg Photography

With destination and beach weddings becoming increasingly popular, most bridal designers have created looks that lend toward the sandy shores. When it comes to beachside couture, here are a few of my favorite looks from the most recent collections that will give you the wow factor and have your groom picking his jaw up off the sand.

This gorgeous Claire Pettibone gown will surely elicit gasps as you walk down the aisle.  Another stunner, this simple yet sophisticated gown from Cicada Bridal with backless detail is perfect for the beach. 

What says beach gown better than a gown that is designed in cotton, the fabric that breathes? Check out these gowns from The Cotton Bride. The Vivian is made entirely in cotton lace over silk chiffon and has a smooth flat jewel-neck bodice and is lined in 100% breathable cotton. Delicate cotton lace covers a super-slimming Arianna dress that has a scoop neckline and a hand-draped gathered silk chiffon belt complete the look.  Lastly the classic yet weightless Niki dress was inspired by the slim lines and form-flattering fashions of the Roaring 20′s and is made from airy 100% cotton open weave antique English cotton lace over 100% silk chiffon and is also lined in cotton. 

These lightweight, flowing gowns from Nicole Miller will look breathtaking when a beach breeze comes along and flatters almost all figure types. The double-face silk satin has a subtle sheen that moves with the body and the open criss-cross back adds flair to a classic A-line cut. How about this beach beauty made of soft stretch crepe-de-chine that has a sheer chiffon overlay, soft detailing in the bodice and mermaid silhouette?

This spaghetti-strap dress from the Angel Sanchez Spring 2013 Bridal Collection injects a dose of sexy and sophistication to a beach wedding. And here comes another. This romantic fit and flare wedding dress by Anne Barge is simple yet fabulous, and would fit in at any beach ceremony.

I just love this silk J. Crew “Bettina” sheath gown that features a modified halter neckline and keyhole detail. So elegant and oh so pretty. And check out this Badgley Mischka silk sheath gown, with an embroidered bolero that is sure to turn heads.

Having a beach wedding but still want to have the classic full bridal skirt? Check out this light and airy A-line gown from Ella Rosa. I love the tiers and ruffles! Very girly indeed. Think that lace can’t work for the beach? Just ask this dress. This Monique Lhuillier dress with the lace overlay proves you wrong.

Looking to rock a short look?  After all those hours at the gym, you deserve to show off those gams.  This look is from Hayley Paige and gives you the functionality of a short dress, but with the option of the drama of a full skirt! And this little number from Marchesa is oh-so-flirty and perfect for the beach, as is this sweet dress from BHLDN.

Have to have a gown-gown? This fluffy look from Jenny Lee is so pretty and feminine. As is this soft Elie Saab for Pronovias, which just screams romance.

So think limitless like the grains of sand and depths of the ocean. Go ahead! Set your fantasy on the dress of your dreams and sail away.

xx,

 Kiss the Planner

The post Beach-side Weddings; What to Wear appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.

Technology in the wedding world will undoubtedly continue to have an immeasurable impact on 2013 and far beyond this decade. Couples open their wedding doors to the world as they broadcast the wedding live through their social networks. Friends, family and photographers can upload their just taken photographs and video to Facebook, Twitter, Vine and other social media outlets in real time, allowing them the ability to share their experiences.

Left: The Knot / Middle: MySentimentsInvites / Right: Purple Peony Couture

Most couples hire professional wedding photographers to capture these moments but friends and family will inevitably be snapping away from their smartphones. While this is not always a problem, this advance technology may come with a price tag.  There is always the possibility that the professional photographers can not get the shot  they are aiming for if one of the guests is in the way.

Clockwise: Top Right: Juno Studio / Bottom Right: Christopher David Photography / Bottom Left: Heather Parker Photography / Top Left: Tiffany Johnson Photography

If you choose to encourage guests to shoot and share, the next step is to aggregate all those photos into an online album for you to access later and there are some great tools to do so.  Mobile apps such as Wed Pics or Wedding Snap allows your guest to download the images they take, which are then published to an online gallery for all to share.  If something like Wedding Snap is not in your budget, Instagram offers a free option in which you create a unique hashtag. The advantage, however, to paying for an app is that you get video with most of them, as well as easy downloading and printing options for even more sharing options.

Let us know if you’ve indulged in photo sharing, if you have used one of these apps, and how you like it!

xx,

Kiss the Planner

The post Trending Thursdays: Photo Sharing at Weddings appeared first on Breakers Palm Beach Wedding Planner|Ritz Carlton Wedding Event Planning.