Tuesday September 13, 2011
Photo: Courtesy of Ashley Morgan
Boston brides take note! If you haven't yet selected your wedding accessories, be sure to stop by Bloomingdale's in Newton this Friday and Saturday to view a selection of Ashley Morgan jewelry and meet the designer, Ashley Berman. Her stunning collection of earrings, necklaces, and rings has a delicate, organic vibe, that easily lends itself to bridal. Still looking for your dream ring? Ashley can work with you to create a custom design. Pre-shop the collection on the Ashley Morgan website and get all the event details under the jump.
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In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Boston, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.
It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi
See the full list of winners after the jump.
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Photos: Corinna Raznikov
Elizabeth and Robby met when both were law school students in Boston. "Even though we now live in New York, we chose to marry in Boston because the city holds sentimental value for us," says Elizabeth. She wore a Rivini gown and an orchid in her hair. The groom sported a Paul Smith tux. The bride carried a bouquet of garden roses, mini calla lilies, stars of Bethlehem, veronicas, freesia, and thistle. Her bridesmaids, clad in LulaKate dresses, carried bouquets of freesia, roses, veronicas, and mini calla lilies. The wedding was held at the Boston Public Library, where, during the reception, the newlyweds performed their first dance to "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers; afterward, everyone reveled to music performed by the band Beantown. See Elizabeth and Robby's full story in their Real Wedding slideshow.
Photo: Thomas Iannaccone
Did you like Miranda Lambert's reception, bridesmaids, and mother-of-the-bride dresses? The entire bridal party wore designs from Priscilla of Boston's various lines—and yours can, too, if you take advantage of the upcoming warehouse sample sale. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, Priscilla of Boston will offer up to 75% off on dresses from the title line, Platinum, Jewel, Melissa Sweet, and Vineyard. Prices start at $199, so be sure to arrive early at 40 Cambridge Street, Charleston, MA for the best deals. Start eyeing the selects now in our Wedding Dresses Gallery for a little pre-shopping. —Phillip B. Crook
Photo: Courtesy of the Taj Boston
I love an event space with an amazing view—and the newly renovated Roof at the Taj Boston hotel has one of the best in the city. Open from April to November for private events, the Roof features classic, black-and-white decor, capacity for up to 180 people, and, oh yeah, an amazing, panoramic view of the Public Garden. It's available for weddings or rehearsal dinners, and every Sunday in season, the Roof hosts a Champagne brunch, which could be a great spot to host your nearest and dearest for a post-wedding meal. For more information, visit the Taj Boston's website, and check out our Boston Index for more great ideas.—Kim Forrest
Photos: Joyelle West Photography
"Because Simon and I were living apart—he was in Paris and I was in New York—during our engagement, we did our planning long distance," says Kristie. "But through email and phone calls, we were still able to choose everything together." Kristie wore a Melissa Sweet dress from Priscilla of Boston with a Malis-Henderson veil. Simon sported an Yves Saint Laurent suit. The wedding was held at the Castle at Boston University, a historic space on campus. "At first we wanted to get married in Paris," says Kristie. "But the Castle offered some of the same charm and romance of Europe." Kristie and Simon also made the escort cards, tags that combined type and handwriting, and were each tied to a vintage skeleton key. Dinner, by Catering on the Charles, included tortellini and beef tenderloin. A traditional wedding cake and a croquembouche—the customary wedding confection in France—were served for dessert, along with a buffet of treats. For the full story of Kristie and Simon's wedding, see the entire slideshow.
Photo: Courtesy of Elegance & Grace Wedding Planning
If you're looking to meet lots of vendors in one day, attend the Brides & Bouquet Wedding Show hosted by Elegance & Grace Event Planning and Doubletree Guest Suites on April 16, 2011 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Waltham, and will feature more than 20 local vendors. Brides-to-be have the opportunity to talk to florists, DJs, stationery designers, and photographers, while sampling different cakes and viewing the latest trends in makeup, hair, and wedding dresses. At the end of the night, one lucky attendee will win a grand prize package, including a gift certificate towards a wedding gown of their choice, five hours of wedding planning services, jewelry, a handbag, floral arrangements, and a free bridal suite for two nights with brunch the next day. Additionally, all raffle proceeds will be donated to cancer research. And even if you don't win the grand prize, all brides will walk away with a goody bag. Register for this event at Elegance & Grace's website, and check out our Boston index page for more wedding ideas and events. —Mary Beth Somich, Brides Boston
Photo: courtesy of Todd Reed
If you're searching for your dream ring, check out the bridal jewelry show at the Don Muller Gallery in Northampton, MA this Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10 from 10am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday, and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Featured designers will include Todd Reed (whose raw-yet-elegant designs—shown above—are a staff favorite), Chris Ploof, Sholdt Design, and Sethi Couture. Visit the Don Muller Gallery's website for more information, and don't forget to visit our jewelry gallery for some pre-shopping inspiration.
Photo: Courtesy of Forty Winks
Looking for some lovely lingerie for your trousseau? Visit Forty Winks, a charming new boutique in Harvard Square. The store, which opened last year, features some of our favorite wedding-night lingerie brands, including Chantelle, Jenna Leigh, Cosabella, Mimi Holliday, and Zinke, as well as shapewear (by Spanx, NuBra, and more) to go under your gown. And if you're honeymooning in a warm-weather destination, the boutique also carries swimwear by Eberjey and Huit. Visit Forty Winks' website for more information on the store, and check out our lingerie gallery for more undergarment ideas. —Kim Forrest
Photo: Courtesy of Paper, Gowns, and Glory
For those of you looking for a one-of-a-kind cake topper, we offer you Aimee Empey of Boston-based Paper, Gowns, and Glory. Aimee sculpts custom bride and groom toppers out of Japanese, Italian, recycled, and handmade papers, using special archival glue to prevent yellowing over time. The process starts by sending Amy a photo of you and your fiancé, along with a description or photo of what you'll be wearing on your wedding day. Aimee then works her magic to create a miniature recreation that will last forever. Custom toppers start at $450; visit papergownsandglory.com to order. And see more cake toppers in our Cake Gallery. —Carly Totten
Photo: Courtesy of Filene's Basement
If you're heading to the Filene's Basement Running of the Brides sale on Friday, March 11th at the Hynes Convention Center, you might want to start rethinking your ensemble. JetBlue is inviting brides-to-be with a team of up to five friends to dress up as their favorite honeymoon destination (anywhere JetBlue flies) for their "Get-A-Dress, Getaway Contest." From 6 to 8 a.m., a representative will photograph all of the participating teams, the top 10 favorites will be featured in an online contest, at which point the public will vote for the grand prize winner. The lucky winner will receive round-trip air transportation and hotel accommodations for 7 nights/8 days to the honeymoon destination of their choice. Visit Filene's Basement's website for more information about the Running of the Brides sale, and check out our coverage of the New York event.—Kim Forrest
Photo: Courtesy of Bakers' Best Catering
If you're planning on getting ready for your wedding with all your bridesmaids, don't just order a pizza to feed the gang. Boston's Bakers' Best Catering offers a new "Gift of Food" program where you can order full catered meals for a group delivered to your home, or even the salon where you're getting beautified. Whether it's the "Comforts of Home" menu, which features four-cheese lasagna, antipasto salad, focaccia, and cookies, or the "Simple Beginnings" breakfast menu with freshly baked muffins, scones, and mini croissants, individual quiches, and fruit salad, it's a great way to keep the crew happy, fed, and energized for the long day ahead. And, if you're looking for a gift to give a newlywed couple, I love the idea of sending a meal to their home the day they return from their honeymoon. It's likely that they'll hungry and exhausted after a long trip, and the fridge is likely to be bare. Meals start at $40 for four servings. For more information, visit Bakers' Best Catering's website, and don't forget to visit our food and drink gallery for lots of creative catering ideas.—Kim Forrest, Brides Boston
Photos: Grazier Photography
"Nick and I wanted our wedding to have a formal yet whimsical feel—something along the lines of A Midsummer Night's Dream—plus lots of local and organic elements," says Emily. She wore a Romona Keveza gown from Vows Bridal Outlet in Watertown. The wedding took place at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. The ceremony was held on the estate's formal lawn.
Photos: Grazier Photography
Bridesmaids wore dresses by AriaDress, and carried clusters of sarracenia, calla lilies, veronica, and freesia. All floral design was by Faxon Green Elegant Floral & Event Design. At the tented reception, guests were directed to their tables by escort cards resting on a bed of moss. The tables were decorated with a variety of centerpieces, created using locally sourced flowers and plants. Read more from this couple's wedding here.
Courtesy of Seaport World Trade Center
Boston's first big bridal expo of 2011 is on January 9th, and it's really not to be missed—it's the ultimate one-stop-shop to help you find all of your vendors. The Boston Wedding Show will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it will feature over 85 of Boston's best wedding vendors. There will also be two fashion shows showcasing the latest wedding dresses and formalwear, and the chance to win tons of prizes—including a wedding gown! Tickets are $15 at the door, but you can get two tickets for the price of one if you register in advance at the bridal show's website. And don't forget to visit our Boston local page to get lots more information about planning a wedding in New England. —Kim Forrest
Tuesday December 21, 2010
Courtesy of Anais Collezioni
The St. Pucchi collection is known for jaw-dropping, couture-inspired wedding dresses. So we were, of course, delighted to hear about a new wedding gown line designed by Rani and her two sons that maintains St. Pucchi's grand, whimsical style, but retails for under $2,000. Called Anais Collezioni, the collection features fashion-forward detailing and modern silhouettes. I'm particularly in love with the dress pictured above—the gold sash accentuates the natural waist, and the silhouette is so flattering. The gowns are already available at stores in 27 states, so visit Anais Collezioni's website for more information on where to find these gorgeous gowns. And don't forget to head over to our dress gallery to see hundreds of amazing wedding dresses.—Kim Forrest
