A Soolip Wedding

Confession: I'm nowhere near getting married myself, but I'm probably the biggest wedding enthusiast there is. I have handfuls of girlfriends who I've helped along the exciting process, and my sheer enthusiasm for the topic is immeasurable. Really. How many wedding expos have I attended (usually on my own?) Too many to admit.

From wedding planner, photographer, dress consultant, bridesmaid and more, I've worn a lot of hats over the years--all in the name of the art of marriage; so when Soolip invited me to attend their event, A Soolip Wedding, held at the Bel-Air Bay Club, this weekend, I happily obliged.

The event certainly did not disappoint; it was a wedding extravaganza--from delicious cake tastings, frothy wedding gowns on display, adorable ideas, and talented experts at every corner--I was in wedding planning heaven. Here's a peek at all of the prettiness:

Wedding Whimsy

Okay so maybe I am very very very far off from saying 'I Do' anytime soon, but that doesn't mean I can't start daydreaming early. (Actually the wedding planning process started about 10 years ago, so I'm just carrying on with the momentum.) See more inspiration for my Big Day below:

Love this.

I speak from experience when I say I am way over forcing bridesmaids to wear the same dress, hairstyle, jewelry and makeup look. This bride was smart to give her girls a subdued palette to achieve the vibe she was after, but gave them freedom to find cute dresses that complement their personal styles, body shapes and budgets. Plus, I guarantee you these girls will wear those dresses again.

Pink Romance

Needless to say, I always have dresses on the brain, but with four weddings coming up in the near future, I'm looking at dresses with added interest for such special occasions. Saw this one on Nordstrom early this morning (what? you don't shop online at 7AM?), and think it's quite lovely!



Thoughts?

JS Collections Strapless Chiffon Dress, $198.

Amsale = Amazing!

This dreamy wedding dress from Amsale took my breath away! The sweetheart neckline, tiers of extravagant ruffles and whimsical sash bow belt is romantic, ultra-girly and pretty much fabulous, no?

See more incredible runway looks from the recent New York Bridal Week here.

Because I Love Bridal...

It's quite clear that I'm a bit bridal-obsessed (nope, no ring on my finger yet--far from it, actually!), and I've been called on by countless friends and loved ones to help with their Big Day. From event design to program assembly to favor inspiration and accessory sourcing, there's not one detail that I haven't uncovered in the name of nuptial bliss--for someone else. My favorite aspect, though? Wedding dress shopping, of course! It never gets old, and to me, it's always insanely exciting.

For this reason, I've always got my eyes peeled for pretty, fresh, flirty designs and these wedding dresses by Priscilla of Boston are no exception! There's truly something for every bride: short and sweet, over-the-top ballgowns, sexy mermaid styles and even, a frothy few from a fabulous Vera Wang collaboration.






Take a look at the site and see for yourself...and don't forget to check out the bridesmaid dresses (I'm on the hunt for one now for a September wedding that I'm in), fetching little flower girl dresses and amazingly ornate headpieces.

My personal favorite bridal gown? A sassy sweetheart neckline design of Swiss dot fabrication and a whimsical sash bow to top it off.


I'm dizzy with delight!

Swoon! Vera Wang Wedding Dresses!

Wedding season (my favorite!) is just around the corner, and there's some excitement brewing over at David's Bridal beyond their typical enormous selection of wedding dresses and bridesmaid options for all. If you're one of the countless brides who struggles with appeasing her designer taste with a realistic budget, rejoice in the newest collaboration: White by Vera Wang for David's Bridal.

Wang has smartly created a breath-taking selection of frothy dresses for every woman--from organza ballgowns to structured mermaid styles, the gowns are every bit designer-gorgeous as her originals--without the hefty price tag! This collection of Vera Wang wedding dresses impressively ranges from $600-1,400. Amazing, right?




And as if there weren't dreamy enough, White by Vera Wang also has a sizable stash of seriously to-die-for accessories including crystallized headbands, brilliant sash belts and stunning hair combs.

Love is in the air, ladies!

Bridal Beauties

Vera Wang does it again. Peep my fave standouts from her Spring 2011 collection...

Bridesmaid Beauties

This morning I had the divine honor of modeling a one-shoulder Joanna August silk bridesmaid dress on KTLA for a TV segment for my friend, Ali's Plan my Wedding blog.
It was a lot of fun and the dresses were gorgeous! Joanna was an awesome designer, and totally made all of us feel comfortable and beautiful in her gowns. If you're ever in the market for a special occasion dress that oozes sophistication and elegance, I'd highly recommend her.

Here's the video:

 

Be sure to vote for your favorite on Ali's blog!

Dress of a Lifetime

As I've written about previously, my good friend Ali is boldly allowing the world to plan her wedding day--no easy feat! Everything from the color scheme to the venue to the band and more has been voted on by the public, and now we're down to (probably) the most exquisite detail of them all: the wedding dress!

Ali is smitten with this Angel Sanchez design, and as her good friend and fashion cohort, I have to agree that this one suits her the best and would be perfection on her wedding day.



She desperately needs votes for her dream dress, which is why I'm posting the link here. We're Team Angel Sanchez and need to recruit more voters. Please take two seconds out of your day and help this blushing bride fulfill her wedding day dreams!

Dear Fabulous File...

I bought this dress for a wedding, but don't how to accessorize it.



Any ideas?

-Andie

Dear Andie,

Definitely! With such an iconic and bold pattern, I would keep everything else simple. Sparkly studs or dainty drops will add polish to your look without overwhelming the one-shoulder cut or jewel tone colors. As for shoes, I love a soft gold metallic sandal that's sexy and subtle at the same time. Avoid distracting straps and ornate embellishments with a dress like this--keep the focus on the pattern and modern cut, and you'll look perfectly pulled-together.













Lastly, consider a quick spray tan for your legs and clavicle for a summer glow that's good for the skin, and ultra natural-looking. My pick? Lancome Flash Bronzer Spray...flawless!

Cheers!

xoxo

The Fabulous File

Wedding Planner

I don't normally blog about personal contacts of mine, but I had to make an exception this time, because it involves one of my all-time favorite subjects: weddings!
My lovely friend, Ali, is an editor at LA Times Magazine, and is also newly-engaged! Her fiance, Ryan, couldn't be a better fit for her, and I so am beyond thrilled for the upcoming nuptials because they make a truly beautiful couple--inside and out.



And unlike myself, Ali has never really put much thought into her actual wedding day, which is why she is turning to total strangers for advice--a brave move I could never pull off. Essentially, she's letting her online readers plan. her. wedding.

Yep, you heard me! So do her a phenomenal favor and cast your vote here on a variety of fabulous topics and sound off on what you would do if you were in charge of getting these two lovebirds hitched.

(www.planmywedding.latimesmagazine.com)