Event Alert: Wedding Blueprint Open House

What a crazy/beautiful/wonderful start to 2015!! We're so sorry about all the quiet on the blog lately. We've been busier than ever having an amazing time making new friends with the sweetest brides and some of their loved ones as their search continues or they say YES to THE dress! 

Have you been making new wedding friends 2015? Either way, we need to introduce you to some – mostly Liza: the amazingly sweet and endlessly talented owner of Studio DBI, a full service event design company, offering planning, coordinating, design consulting, and in-house floral services. They do it all!

After seeing Studio DBI's work for the first time, we realized we couldn't live without them. The arrangements we get from Liza and her team never fail give our salon a new breathe of life.  We now aim to have their florals as much as possible and can personally attest to the team's personal and outstanding customer service  and eye for style and design.

Not only is Liza's team expert in creating swoon-worthy arrangements, but our boutique space, colors, and environment are always considered when they design arrangements for us, creating works that not only fit whatever mood we want to set for the week but also compliment and enhance the entire room.

Ready to make new friends? Mark Sunday, February 22 on your calendars as Studio DBI hosts The Wedding Blueprint Open House right here in Alexandria. Get the chance to meet our friends from Studio DBI, Paired Images (remember them from here and here?), and more awesome local wedding vendors that you'll absolutely want the chance to get to know. 

RSVP for the event here (before Feb 17) and contact Studio DBI or Perfect Planning Events for any questions about The Wedding Blueprint.

Wedding Through Two Different Lenses

On the off chance you thought wedding photography was just about having a nice camera and knowing how to use it, we present to you a Kate Spade inspired stylized wedding through the eyes and lenses of two fabulous photographers.

These two little sneak peeks are a great example of how a photographer's vision, technical photography skills, and post processing choices give each of their albums a personality of their own. It's important to remember that photographers are artists that completely immerse themselves into their work. SO much happens behind the scenes that we don't see when we are in front of the camera!

We absolutely love how our Kate Spade shoot turned out (special thanks to Margo of Bright Occasions & The DC Ladies!) and hope you'll appreciate the passionate work our wedding photographers do when turning your wedding day into a memorable work of art. 

Molly Tobias Photography

Procopio Photography

Vendor Information:

Photography: Procopio Photography & Mollie Tobias Photography | Wedding Planning & Styling: Bright Occasions  -Contact: Margo Fischer  |Venue: Carnegie Library - Contact: Kristina Noell or Ashley Forrester | Catering: Katie Musser, 550 Events - Contact: Katie Musser | Wedding Cake: Kendall’s Cakes - Contact: Meghan De Angelis |Desserts: Huda’s Sweet Bee Bakery - Contact: Huda Baterjee | Invitations & Paper: Tabibi Design - Contact: Tina Tabibi | Rentals: DC Rentals - Contact: Kathleen Schmidt | Floral Design: Eight Tree Street - Contact: Contact: Maribel Kalata | Hair: Amie Decker of Amie Decker Beauty | Makeup: Suzanne Della Pella of Amie Decker Beauty - Contact: Amie Decker | Garter: The Garter Girl - Contact: Julianne Smith | Bridal Gown and Bridesmaid Dresses: Ellie’s Bridal Boutique - Contact: Ellie’s Bridal | Bridal Jewelry: Diamond Connects - Contact: Diamond Connects |Bridesmaid Jewelry: Rene Kauder – Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot - Contact: Rene Kauder

The Bride’s Look:

Bridal Gown – Victoria-Nicole/1106

Shoes – Kate Spade

Engagement Ring: custom made 14k white gold Halo diamond engagement ring with center stone Radiant fancy yellow 1.21 carat total weight  VS2 clarity & 0.37 carat total weight white diamond side stones Retails: $11,622

Bracelet: custom made 18k white gold deco-inspired diamond bracelet 4.81 carat total weight  Retail: $13,300

Earrings: custom made 18kt white deco-inspired drop earrings 5.24 total weight Retail: $9,672

The Bridesmaid’s Look:

Bridesmaids – Jim Hjelm Occasions 1)   JH5125 2)   JH5185 3)   JH5363

Necklace – Somervell Necklace $59.00

Earings – Nancy Studs $24.00

Bracelet – Christina Link Bracelet $49.00

More Posts from The DC Ladies' Wedding Week:

*check out all of the wonderful photo’s through out the above posts

Source: http://www.thedcladies.com/dc-ladies-weddi...

Wedding Guests: Don't be "That" Guy

Everyone wants to get the best shot of the Bride & Groom and get the most likes on Instagram and Facebook. We're glad that everyone is so excited to celebrate their love. But this wedding season, please be considerate and let the couple cherish the photos they really want (HINT: it's NOT a photo of your hands/camera/ipad!)

Wedding Bouquet Video Camera

6 months before our wedding, my wife and I decided to hide a GoPro HD Hero 2 video camera in her wedding bouquet. The wide angle first person viewpoint of her walking down the aisle is something we can look back on many years from now.

What a neat idea to add a camera in your bouquet! It shows you in first person your point of view of what you saw during your exciting moments. If you are thinking of using videography to capture your wedding day memories, this is a must.

Comment below and tell us how you will keep your Wedding Day alive for years to come.

Wedding Veil Regrets

About 2 out of 10 brides come in to our boutique unsure if they would like a veil or not. If you do not think you want a veil, we suggest just to try one on anyway. You never know how you will feel until you try one on and see yourself in the mirror with a wedding gown and the veil for the first time. We find that more than half of the time, brides who said they did not want one change their mind. There is something about the veil and a wedding gown that makes each bride feel like it is really happening to them, they are getting married!!!

 

We found one blogger was torn and decided not to have a veil and now regrets it. She wishes she had changed her mind and now brings up some excellent points and stunning photos that you could have if you choose to have a veil too. We have to say, she found some great photos!

Thank you to our wonderful Ellie's Brides and their amazing photographers who shared these breath taking photographs with us.

What are your thoughts on veils? Comment below and let us know what you think!

 

Why You Have a Ring on It

CONGRATULATIONS to all new brides-to-be!! We can't wait to join your journey for your dream gown so you can have the perfect wedding. And what a fine day it is to be engaged, isn't it? Now that you have a stunning ring on your finger, have you thought about why it's there? Why has tradition chosen to put a ring on that particular finger in the first place? The answer is not quite as random as you may think. Trust me. You absolutely want to read this.


The Chinese Explanation

The Chinese have given a beautiful and very convincing theory as to why the wedding ring should go on the fourth finger. As the story goes :

Look at your left hand, the hand that your wedding ring goes on, and do you see your thumb? Well the thumb represents your parents. Now your index finger, or your first finger, represents your siblings. The third finger, loving called the middle finger by some, represents yourself. Where the fourth finger represents your life partner. And your pinkie is to represent the children you will some day have.

Now if you place both of your hands together and bend your middle fingers together, and leave the other fingers touching together (like shown in the picture).When your hands are in this position, do the following:

tumblr_leyy58661l1qb6ghp.gif

Step 1:
Pull your thumbs apart. (this represents the parents) Your thumbs will open because you and your parents are not destined to be together forever. At some point they will leave you in your life.

Step 2:
Now put your thumbs back together.

Step 3:
Repeat the same motion with your index fingers (this representing your siblings). Of course your index fingers will also separate because you are also not destined to be with your siblings for the rest of your life. They will move on and have families of their own.

Step 4:
Now put them back together.

Step 5:
Now separate your pinkies. (representing your future children) Of course these will also separate because your children will not be with you forever. They will grow up to have lives and families of their own as well.

Step 6:
Now put them back together.

Step 7:
Now for your "ring" finger. (representing your life partner) Try separating them as you did with the other. Can't do it can you? That is because your life partner is the one who is supposed to be with you for the rest of your life. They will be the one to be with you forever and through thick and thin.

Roman belief

According to the Roman belief, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because of a vein that we have in our left "ring" finger. This vein is called the vena amoris, meaning "the vein of love." It was believed that this vein ran directly to the heart and that the "ring finger" was the only finger that contained it. As romantic as that may sound, we now know that this is not true.


Fun Idea: Print this, and give your guests something fun to read on your wedding programs to give your guests something fun to read during any waiting time. Make sure to warn your photographer so you can get some keepsake shots of your guests trying to do this!

(Original Source)

Why We Choose Stella York

Glamorous. Sexy. Extravagant. A Stella York wedding dress is more than just a designer label. It’s an indelible mind-set — with each creation a perfect complement to a bride’s attitude, style and spirit.

That's what Stella York is all about. Previously known as Ella Bridals, Stella York is an Australian-based company that never fails to bring in fresh designs that are not only merely beautiful but a statement of your spirit. Their light weight and comfort ensure that you will feel free enough to let your personality truly shine it's best on your wedding day. We also love Stella York because their mission fits our own: quality of fabric, fit, and finish at a competitive price. Here at Ellie's Bridal Boutique, we truly believe that it is possible to find a high quality gown for under $1500, and Stella York is proof of that.

Stella York is designed for the bride looking to find the magic that only she could create on her wedding day. She's a bride full of spirited dreams and an energy that radiates around her. See what we mean and view our gallery below to share the magic these three Ellie's brides experienced with their Stella York gowns this past year.

Needless to say, we are so excited to have Stella York Trunk Show at Ellie's Bridal Boutique! Make your appointment today for March 9-10, 2013 to view Stella York's newest bridal collection and enjoy 10% OFF* the purchase of any Stella York gown.

Many of the featured wedding gowns will be in out store for ONE WEEKEND ONLY !  Spaces are limited, so don't miss out by waiting to book your appointment for this exclusive event!

Appointments are required to attend this event. Call 703-683-VOWS(8697) to book your appointment today & RSVP on our Facebook Invitation.

*Purchases must be made March 9th or 10th to qualify for the discount.

Featured Weddings: Lisa's Destination wedding in Greece, Jenny's Old Amusement Park wedding, Jeorjina's Grand Caymen wedding

Young Love - Cinemagraphs

Thumbing through all the Wedding ideas, we came across a very different but interesting way to display your photo. It's so cool, we couldn't help but share. This new technology is called Cinemagraphs. It's a way to take 'stills' to move. MailOnline say, " The 'cinemagraphs' look like a still photo but actually feature a subtle area of movement designed to grab your eye and keep looking. The effect is slightly eerie - but utterly captivating.

New York-based Miss Beck told The Atlantic magazine: ‘There's something magical about a still photograph - a captured moment in time - that can simultaneously exist outside the fraction of a second the shutter captures.

‘We feel there are many exciting applications for this type of moving image.

‘There's movement in everything and by capturing that plus the great things about a still photograph you get to experience what a video has to offer without the time commitment a video requires.’

She added that sharing websites such as Tumblr have been essential for helping them publish their work and getting them an audience.

Here is the still photo. Click on the link to see it in action. Would you consider doing something like this for your wedding? What do you think of this new technology?

Remember those moving photos in Harry Potter? Well, now it's real. Cinemagraphs is a new technology to take ‘stills’ that move. - via Ellie's Bridal Blog

Other photos and further details, check out MailOnline or the artist's cinemegraphs page from From Me To You.

Wedding Gown Photo Ideas

Congratulations! You're engaged and we have helped to pick out your jaw dropping Wedding Gown and the perfect Bridesmaids gowns!

Now that you've spent all that time in search of your perfect gown you better bet that you're going to get some great wedding shots out of it! How about you show off your fashionista style by beautifully displaying your wedding gown on a custom-made hanger or find the perfect back-drop to show off all your attire?

Our own Janelle had a custom hanger to show off her beautiful wedding gown by Ella Rosa (top left). What a great way to have your new last name incorporated in your wedding photos! If you like this idea, we have seen some beautiful options on Etsy. We recommend the custom wooden hangers as opposed to the wired ones to prevent wedding hangers from bending due to the weight of many bridal gowns. Other ideas includs adding pearls down the top side of the hanger (top right: above) or creating custom hangers for your Bridesmaids (top right: below). These work great as idal party gifts and look beautiful in pictures, too.

Another one of our brides, Jen, picked out a beautiful hanger to place on a romantic chandelier to show off her Mikaella dress (bottom left). We also found that some of our other brides, including Devon in Blue by Enzoani (center left) & Brittani in Casablanca (center right), combined a few stunning photos all together in one. Not only do you see the gown in one portion but other romantic shots as well.

We couldn't help ourselves and check out pinterest to find some great locations to display your wedding and bridesmaid gowns together. One that caught our eye has the gowns on a neutral fence (bottom left). If you are about to get married, or already have, where do you see your dress being photographed?

Check out some of our other brides' fantastic photos on Facebook. Ellie's Bride Heidi, Ellie's Bride Alicia, Ellie's Bride Rachel, and more. Clearly the best place for wedding inspiration is amongst the Ellie's Bridal Family.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Jen & Jim!!

Jen in @Mikaella Bridal -- Ever After Visuals Mother-Daughter Photography Team (09/10/11)

 Jen's bridal party was in full Ellie's Bridal attire with her light and fun Mikaella wedding gown and accompanied by bridesmaids dressed in Jim Hjelm Occasions. In fact, the bridesmaid pictured immediately to the left of Jen (photo below) also bought her bridal gown at Ellie's! Coincidentally, her name is Mikaella and she was also married in a Mikaella wedding gown.

Jen in @Mikaella Bridal -- Ever After Visuals Mother-Daughter Photography Team (09/10/11)

Before Jen was officially set on her gown, there was one test it had to pass first. And with that, she got down and boogied right in the middle of the store while wearing our sample. After her dance was complete she stood up straight and declared, "Okay, this is it!" We definitely had a few good laughs that day.

Jen in @Mikaella Bridal -- Ever After Visuals Mother-Daughter Photography Team (09/10/11)

You too can create such a lovely wedding by taking advantage of nature's beauty. Take a look to see how they had such romantic shots in the evening under an enchanted tree and romantic photos by a lovely, dreamy lake. Jen & Jim chose a location that not only had nature's beauty but architectural beauty to help give them different looks throughout their day.

Jen in @Mikaella Bridal -- Ever After Visuals Mother-Daughter Photography Team (09/10/11)

Congratulations on the first year of their 'new' adventure. Here's to many, many more years to come! We sincerely hope that your first year of marriage has been everything you hoped for, and more.