inspiring items and ideas for the discerning bride
Here comes the bling
Add some sparkly “bling” to your wedding cake with a crystal monogram cake topper. Toppers With Glitz creates custom-designed cake toppers using only crystallized Swarovski elements. From a single letter, monogram or shape, choose from a variety of options to match your wedding theme. You even have options to match the font style used in your wedding program or invitations. After the wedding, your topper becomes a great keepsake for the home to frame or hang from the Christmas tree. www.topperswithglitz.com
Not just any old day
Women everywhere cherish some days more than others – especially their wedding day – and the remembrance of these dates always brings forth smiles and happiness. Commemorate that special day with a calendar key pendant or calendar bracelet from Not Just Any Old Day. Each sterling silver, gold or gold-plated piece features an engraved calendar that marks her special date with a Swarovski crystal – a true treasure that will become her most prized possession. www.notjustanyoldday.com
Italy – on a budget
A wedding reception on a budget no longer means a restricted choice in reception wines. Even if an Italian honeymoon is out of your budget, having sophisticated Italian wines poured at the reception is a hint of Italy that almost everyone can afford. Soave is an elegant, volcanic white wine from the Veneto region of Italy that is balanced and refreshing. Soave wines can be sipped during cocktail hour and easily transition to the dinner table. Soave’s versatile, medium body and light crispness make it an ideal wine pairing to a wide range of cuisines. Retailing for under $20 on average, this is a unique white that guests can enjoy throughout the evening. For a red selection, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi offers Remole, a wine that will bring a touch of Tuscan warmth to the reception. Remole is a delightful blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon that will shine next to a rich pasta or red meat dish. Retailing for around $10, this is a bottle that can fit into most meal budgets.
Get grooming!
While brides-to-be are busy pampering their skin and hair to prep for the big day, grooms are no exception. Grooms need just as much help achieving skin that stays fresh looking down the aisle and all honeymoon long. Enter the Organic Male OM4 Skin Collection. Free of harmful chemicals such as parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate, this skin care line is made of rejuvenating vitamin and antioxidant rich extracts. While the ingredients from desert succulents such as cactus and yucca, moisturize dry skin, kelp and other sea botanicals keep sensitive skin smooth. Pressed for time? The four-step regimen takes four minutes or less. Comes in four collections: Sensitive, Oily, Normal and Dry. www.om4men.com
Save face
On your wedding day, your makeup has to look perfect all day and night – through dancing, tears and humidity. Skindinavia’s Bridal Makeup Finish holds makeup flawlessly for 16 hours. The finishing sprays help prevent loss of color, melting, sliding, caking, excess shininess, fading eye shadow, blush and foundation. Apply the micro-fine mist over makeup or directly on your makeup brush or sponge. Skindinavia was first used on movie sets to hold makeup under hot lights and to minimize the need for touchups and control excess shine. Each four-ounce bottle contains over 300 sprays, which is enough for the entire bridal party, honeymoon and beyond. Hypoallergenic, tear- and moisture-resistant, and recommended for all skin types. www.skindinavia.com
Say it in style
Say “I do” to the “Mrs” necklace from Kate Spade’s Wedding Belles Collection, a perfect gift for any bride or newlywed. Fun and whimsical, the necklace is crafted out of 12-karat gold-plated metal and comes pre-boxed. Fashioned with the newlywed in mind, the “Mrs” necklace can be worn anytime (even on the big day!), and happily ever after. 16” length. www.katespade.com
Catch-all carry-on
A stress-free honeymoon starts with stress-free travel. The stylish Abrigo Bag is a great way to feel calm and collected on your first trip as a Mrs. Or if traveling for a destination wedding, pack your carry-on dress in the Abrigo. For any travel, Abrigo Bag is a great consolidator – pack up your jacket, purse and more for an easy carry-on. www.abrigobag.com
Something blue for your shoe
Having trouble finding something blue? Worry no more. This brilliant “I Do” rhinestone appliqué is not only blue but it holds the answer to the big question – right on the bottom of your shoe. Photo opportunity: Hold up your feet for all to see “you do” have style…and a sense of humor. www.mindyweiss.com
Style? You’ve nailed it
Little details – like your nails – are easy to overlook in the craziness of wedding planning. But just think about it: Your nails will be in many of your wedding photos, from ring shots to holding hands shots to toasting shots. Here are some “tips” for adding style – and maybe a little spice – to those fingers and toes: Shades of light pink are always perfect for the girly bride. Soft, pretty and neutral, you won’t regret this shade a few years down the road. To get the look: Try Essie nail polish in Ballet Slippers, the award-winning, best-selling classic pale pink with a sheer finish. Or break the rules just a little, and go with these modern alternatives to pale pink: a soft lavender, such as Essie’s Bangle Jangle; or a pale gray, such as Essie’s Cocktail Bling. Or go for some pop and choose “something blue” for your big day, like Essie’s Bobbing for Baubles, a deep dark sapphire. Too bold? If you’d rather stick with a more subtle color for your fingers, try it on your toes. Available at Fred Meyer, Walgreens, Target or at www.essie.com.
Breathe a ‘Psi’ of relief
Psi Bands can be the difference between a honeymoon saved or a nausea-filled disaster! Psi Bands are the only stylish drug-free acupressure wrist bands that relieve nausea due to travel (motion sickness). So many honeymoons involve flying, and especially cruising. Newlyweds will appreciate being prepared so that their romantic getaway doesn’t turn into a “get outta my way!” Psi Bands are drug-free, allowing honeymooners to avoid some of the common side effects caused by nausea medications , including: blurred vision, dry mouth and drowsiness. The bands also provide nausea relief due to pregnancy (morning sickness), anesthesia and chemotherapy. Available in five different fun designs (two of them unisex). Find them locally at REI or visit www.psibands.com.
Add spark to your water
Serving water at your outdoor summer reception? Why not add some spark to it? Sparkling ICE is delicious, healthy and zero calories. Made from fresh mountain spring water, natural fruit juices and six essential vitamins and antioxidants, Sparkling ICE is lightly carbonated and comes in assorted thirst-quenching flavors – from orange mango to black raspberry. Sparking ICE is a great alternative to soft drinks appealing to all age groups, diabetics and the health-conscious. Available at Fred Meyer, Costco and other local retailers or visit www.sparklingice.com.
Happy hour for lips
Sometimes your lips just need a drink. Lip Elixirs created a sumptuous line of all-natural lip balms that glide on smooth and melt into your lips, leaving them nourished and protected from the elements. Packaged in retro-style tins, they make a fun and unique wedding guest gift. Created for both men and women, Lip Elixirs come in a variety of mouthwatering cocktail flavors including Mimosa, Mojito, Vanilla Bourbon, Sassafras and Chocolate Martini. Visit www.lipelixirs.com.
Get personal
Local glass artist, Audra Reger of StarDust Designz, creates custom hand-painted gifts for weddings or bridal showers. From stemware and glassware to porcelain sets, each piece can be personalized for a special someone or occasion. All of Audra’s work is done with non-toxic, European, thermo-hardening enamel paints. Choose a custom text, color, pattern or glass type at no extra charge. Visit www.stardustdesignz.com.
Sleek in silver
This year, spoil the bride (or the entire wedding party) with the newest and sleekest kitchen products from KRUPS. The Silver Art Collection rolls out this summer at retailers across the country. Comprised of a coffee machine, espresso machine, tea kettle, toaster and juicer, KRUPS is debuting its breakfast set and setting a new benchmark with its progressive technology and objective modern design (high-gloss chrome and contrastive elements of natural wood). Visit www.krupsusa.com.
Flashy message
Planning a one-of-a-kind celebration? MEDEA vodka boasts a fully customizable LED display that has the ability to program up to six messages at 255 characters each (something even Twitter can be jealous of!). The world’s only programmable bottle, mixed with an award-winning ultra-premium vodka, can easily set the tone for an unforgettable party. Visit www.medeaspirits.com.
Let your skin breathe
DermaMinerals’ unique, long-lasting liquid mineral foundation SPF 30 delivers the perfect amount of coverage, giving skin a smooth, even finish, without weighing it down or clogging pores. The complete line of high-quality mineral makeup is free of talcs, synthetic dyes, artificial fragrance, and parabens, and is packed full of premium, triple-milled pure minerals. Found at www.dermaglow-ak.com or visit www.dermaminerals.com.
Sweet Treat
What better way to celebrate an unforgettable wedding than with personalized monogrammed chocolates? Ideal as a giveaway for guests or as a sweet treat post-dinner, ChocolateBox Cafe’s indulgent ganach chocolates can be customized with any letter in the alphabet. Visit www.chocolateboxcafe.com.
Cry-proof mascara
We know your wedding day means lots of crying (and possibly sweating) so you’ll need to be equipped with the best waterproof mascara. Don’t forgo pretty lashes out of fear that you’ll look like a sad clown by the end of your ceremony. Use Face Atelier's Crybaby Sculpt Mascara – it will help you get through a tearful ceremony, the first dance and all night long. Crybaby glides easily onto your lash and only comes off when you want it to. This mascara is heat, sweat, water, and humidity resistant. Available in black. www.faceatelier.com
Dessert in a bottle
Consider serving a sparkling ice wine for your special occasion. Inniskillin’s 2007 Vidal Icewine vintage stands out as one of the better years for overall quality. This highly acclaimed Canadian ice wine has been described as “liquid gold” and “nectar of the gods.” A brilliant goldenrod color, the wine combines a fragrant bouquet of apricots and a hint of honey balanced by invigorating acidity, offering multiple layers of sweet and tart pleasure. Sip it with someone special after a fine dinner at your favorite restaurant. Also pairs beautifully with cheese plates, spicy Asian cuisine, and more. For a great gift idea, wrap up a bottle with some beautiful dessert wine glasses. www.inniskillin.com
Sweet spa treatment
Here’s a great gift idea for your mom, future mother-in-law, bridesmaids or even yourself. Brown Sugar Escape offers the ultimate at-home spa treatment featuring the original, all-natural Brown Sugar Bodycare. Brown Sugar Body Polish was the first sugar exfoliant on the market, and while many have tried to duplicate it, none have surpassed its transformative, radiant results. Since its launch in 1999, Brown Sugar Body Polish has evolved into a complete bodycare collection that offers addictive scents, sublime textures, and unrivaled results for the ultimate at-home spa experience. Available through About Face in Anchorage, or visit www.fresh.com.
I love you, man
On any given man’s wedding day, he’s head over heels in love with the girl he’s about to marry, but will always hold a special place for his best man and groomsmen. Show them the love with a token of appreciation: The 1800 Tequila Limited Edition Essential Artists Bottles – 12 bottles, each with its own individual edge. Eleven up and coming artists contributed their designs to create these limited-edition masterpieces. With this unique artistic medium, not only will your groomsmen cheer to your great taste, but they’ll continue to celebrate your special day long after the last shot has been poured. Visit www.1800tequila.com.
Strike a pose
Unique save-the-dates and thank you cards shouldn’t add to the bride’s list of worries. With PosePrints.com (shown at right) they don’t have to. PosePrints allow the sender to create a caricature or “pose” of themselves or their groom taking personalization to a whole new level. Customers are able to electronically create a look-alike image of themselves or particular someone from a wide-range of pre-drawn facial features and accessories. You can even upload your PosePrints to your Facebook page using the MyPose application and show all your friends your caricature absolutely free. Visit www.poseprints.com.
Shoes that love you
Just in time for those dreamy spring and summer weddings at destinations worldwide, OKA b., the US based manufacturer of eco-friendly and stylish flip-flops, thongs, sandals and slides, (shown at right) has announced its new bridal line. Unique facets include interchangeable ribbons for the bachelorette party, wedding day and honeymoon, and adornments made from hand set crystals, seashells, and silk rosettes. The shoes are designed with ergonomic footbeds and massage beads to pamper feet and aid posture. To receive 20 percent off your entire bridal order through August 31, 2010, enter BRIDAL2010 at checkout when ordering online only at www.shoesthatloveyou.com.
Cheers!
Choosing a signature cocktail will add a memorable, personal touch to your bar. Pick a drink that stars your favorite liquor, matches your color scheme or just sounds delicious. Signature cocktails can also be a great way to save on the drink tab. Instead of offering a full open bar, serve your guests wine, beer, champagne and just the signature cocktail. With delicious cocktail recipes (like the ones below), they’ll never miss the open bar.
Pomegranate
Champagne Fizz
1 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1 oz super premium gin
½ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz elderflower syrup or other berry syrup
¼ cup champagne
In shaker, combine gin, PAMA, lemon juice, syrup and ice. Shake and strain into champagne flute. Top with champagne.
Casa Noble Organic Margarita
2 oz Casa Noble Crystal
1 oz fresh lime juice (or the juice of 1 whole lime)
¾ oz La Sierra Agave Nectar
Garnish with lime wheel and kosher salt rim (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain and serve up or on the rocks.
Garnish with a lime wheel. To salt rim, moisten rim of glass with lime and gently roll in a plate of kosher salt.
Bowwow beautiful
In response to the growing trend of canine wedding attendants, Up Country has launched an elegant new line of doggie wedding accessories. The line includes Ribbon Collars made with durable fabrics, Ruffs made of lush black velvet or cream taffeta and adorned with blush roses and tulle, and Floral Collars made of comfortable elastic cream taffeta, tulle and pearls with fabric roses or hydrangea. They coordinate with any wedding color scheme and all come gift boxed. Visit www.upcountryinc.com.
Aisle style
Do you have a vision of floating down the aisle on a bed of rose petals? Now envision the time consumption of placing and cleaning up the petals. Petal Happy creates gorgeous and unusual aisle runners and petal carpets made completely out of high-quality faux rose petals. The pre-petaled aisle runners are easily transportable and simply unravel in one piece. The runners and carpets make a quick transition, won’t stain a bride’s priceless white dress and completely transform any event space. A dozen colors and a variety of designs and patterns are available that create a polished, streamlined look. Visit www.petalhappy.com.
Raising the Bar
Here’s a unique wedding favor idea: Create the perfect custom chocolate bar for your guests. At Chocomize you can choose the ingredients to make personalized chocolate bars. First, pick your chocolate – dark, white or milk – and then select up to five extra ingredients from a list of more than 80 fruits, nuts, herbs, spices, candies and decorations. The choices range from the slightly outlandish (23 karat gold flakes and crystallized rose petals) to the quirky (milk chocolate and bacon bits – actually a very popular choice) and traditional favorites like nuts and M&Ms. You can also create a custom image to place on the chocolate bar or design a unique wedding label for your packaging. Visit chocomize.com.
Get coordinated
To help brides plan the color-coordinated wedding of their dreams, The Dessy Group, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaids’ dresses, together with color authority Pantone have announced PANTONE WEDDING, a collection of color tools that make it easy for brides to create perfectly color-coordinated weddings. PANTONE WEDDING features paper swatch cards that can be used on their own, or in combination with Dessy’s popular fabric swatches, to coordinate wedding colors – from bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, accessories and menswear to flowers, invitations and tabletop designs. Visit www.dessy.com/PANTONE.
Love Potion #9
Bring out the passion and romance with Love Potion #9. One of the most versatile spirits, the new Love Potion #9 is incredibly smooth with its blend of 20 exotic tropical fruit flavors, including mango, peach, chocolate, vanilla, pear, apple, cherry, almond and many others. Love Potion #9 can be enjoyed straight like brandy, on the rocks or added to cocktails where its flavor blends with and accentuates fruit juices, mixers, sodas, and, especially, other spirits, including Vodka, Tequila, Rum, Whiskey, and even cream liqueurs. Available in 50ml, 375ml and 750ml bottles, and private labeling is available for larger wedding parties, bridal showers, and anniversary celebrations. Visit www.lovepo9.com.
Need a Solemate?
Planning an outdoor wedding? Ever tried walking on grass or sand in 3-inchers? Rather than twist your ankle or break your heel, increase the stability and surface area of your pair with SoleMates heel covers. These innovative heel huggers make standing in stilettos look and feel easy. Worry no more about sinking through grass, tripping on cobblestones and getting stuck in grates and sidewalk cracks. Visit www.thesolemates.com
Sweetie Stats
This pair of handy journals ensures that neither wife nor husband will ever forget a shirt size, ring size, or an in-law’s birthday again. Each 48-page journal features prompted pages to store essential information on one’s significant other, including clothing sizes, likes and dislikes, and details on extended family as well as wish lists and important dates and milestones. Visit www.chroniclebooks.com.
A Toast to Frugality
For your reception, scaling down on spending doesn’t necessarily mean skimping on indulgence. Here’s how to pull off posh beverages for a budget-friendly wedding fete:
Customary case discounts: If your caterer will let you supply your own wine, shop smart and you can snag a hot buy (like Spanish bubblies Freixenet or Segura Viudas) for well under $120 a case. All styles, from Brut to Rosé to Semi-Dry, serve well on their own as well as when used as a mixer. Most retailers will offer discounts of 10 percent or more off the purchase of a case of 12 bottles. If it’s not offered, ask. You’d be surprised at what you can get when you simply ask.
Double duty: Sparkling wine is obviously a must-have for the toast, but consider also using it to create a vibrant “signature cocktail” all your own. Combine bubbly with a gourmet cocktail mixer, give it a creative moniker, such as a quirky combo of your two last names, and your cocktail will be the hit of the reception.
Control spending with signature cocktails: Using cocktail mixers and light garnish, such as citrus wedges, kiwi slices or blueberries, will stretch the number of servings you get from each bottle of bubbly. And with so much flavor in each glass, no one will notice the absence of pricey liqueurs or premium spirits.
Complement your color scheme: Modern cocktail mixers come in a chic variety of flavors and colors, so your signature cocktail will coordinate perfectly with the wedding palette and create a lovely pop of color on the tables. For more ideas, visit www.freixenetusa.com.
