* Fashionista Monday *


From sketches to real dresses...
Today, we are going to feature the inspirations behind the wedding gowns created by the following designers.

• Melissa Sweet by Antonio Gual and Lia Mcnairy
• Junko Yoshioka
• Watters
• Jenny Lee
• Vera Wang

Melissa Sweet
Inspiration for their Fall 2010 Bridal Collection is butterflies.
One of the dresses from this collection, UMA, was inspired by the movement of butterflies. This dress creates an ethereal and majestic look.

A very nicely done shirred dropped-waist bodice with dramatic detail on hemline and front top neckline. (Bride will look like a beautiful butterfly dancing on the dance floor at her reception.)

Brides.com

From Sketch to Dress Episode

Junko Yoshioka
Inspiration for her Spring 2010 Bridal Collection is "the power of the wind", described as light and airy collection. The wedding gowns in this line are made of all light weight fabric such as silk chiffon, organza and georgette. One of the dresses from this collection, HEATHER (shown below), is made from silk organza.

A natural-waist modified mermaid gown with wind blown feather embroidery motif throughout the bottom skirt. (A beautiful silhouette to show off your hour-glass figure! Love it!)

Brides.com

From Sketch to Dress Episode

Watters
Inspiration for her Fall 2010 Bridal Collection is from the exotic in the common place, perfecting the art of "Staycation".
From the designer: "We found our home state of Texas inspiring - from the live music scene of Austin and the artists community of Marfa to the Spanish architecture of the Alamo."
All these contributed to her remix of traditional silhouettes in unique ways, giving ball gowns volume in unconventional ways.

A sweetheart neckline with princess ball gown accented with a bead-embroidered sash. (On top of the princess's privilege on your wedding day, it gives you an instant princess feel!)

Brides.com

From Sketch to Dress Episode

Jenny Lee

Inspiration for her Fall 2010 Bridal Collection is captured from the concept of "Now & Again" (her new line), it gives bride the ability to wear her dress a number of different ways.
From the designer: "The collection offers today's bride a formal look for her wedding ceremony and with some simple changes she can use the same dress for a different look at her reception."

A simple and elegant single shoulder A-line dress with a twist-detail at natural waist. (Suitable for a bride who wanted a timeless feel at her wedding.)

Brides.com

From Sketch to Dress Episode

Vera Wang

(I have signed up the newsletter update from Vera Wang.)
Here is one of her "Behind the Dress" issues to share with my dear readers.

Vera shared the same concept as Junko Yoshioka, both of them created the dresses with silhouettes that convey a light, airy feel.

From the designer:
"Dinah (dress shown below), captures the art of draping and showcases a classic symbol of romance: the bow. Dinah looks and feels soft, feminine and romantic.

With this dress, I sought to create fullness and lightness in the skirt by tucking the fabric into soft layers. The result is a rich, cascading effect. I chose to offset the volume in the skirt with a fitted bodice. Lace is quintessentially romantic. With Dinah, I have used it only on the bodice to add but not overpower.

In wedding fashion, I love to use ribbons, buttons, bows and blossoms to add whimsy and eccentricity. These design elements introduce fantasy and establish an optimistic tone. For Dinah, I chose a bowed sash tied at the natural waist of the wedding dress. The sash is in grosgrain, one of my signature fabrics.

While i have embraced color in my collections, I chose to design Dinah in white and ivory to underscore the innocence that I believe this wedding dress conveys."

Exclusively from Vera Wang VWonWEDDINGS Behind the Dress Newsletter.

Hope these beautiful wedding dresses cheer you up for the Thanksgiving holiday week!
Happy Monday ~ counting down to the family-gathering Thanksgiving Day.

* Inspiration from Real Weddings Friday *


Here to share the inspiration board today:-
Navy Blue + Yellow Wedding

This inspiration board was inspired by the room decor posted in Coco+Kelley blog about two weeks ago. It is a beautiful color combination; from wedding invitations, bouquet, gown, bridesmaid dress, to reception decor - everything comes together and create a modern look with a touch of vintage feel.

First row (from left to right): Rooms Decor from Coco+Kelley, Brad and Laura's Wedding as seen in Style Me Pretty and photographed by Kelli Nixon, a Denver-based Photographer
Second row: Bouquet & Wedding Shoes as seen in Meredith and Patrick's Wedding from Jenny McCann Photography, Bridesmaids with Ivory and Yellow Bouquets from JL Designs
Third row: Vera Wang Fall 2008 Collection (with ruffled-neckline and sash that matches the bridesmaid dress) from Brides.com, Bridesmaids with Ivory and Yellow Bouquets from JL Design, Wedding Invitation as seen in Style Me Pretty and crafted by Smock Paper, Navy and Yellow Reception as seen in Style Me Pretty

Hope you like this color combo ^.*

Have a good weekend, my dear readers!

* Moment-Capture Thursday *


Enjoy the beautiful wedding photographs from Southern California Wedding Photographer, Caroline Tran! (Photos taken from Caroline Tran's Photography Blog)

I did not see the rings at the first time, and only realized it after I glanced through the picture for the second time ^.*

What a colorful wedding shoes, I like the color!

Beautiful setting

A very special and unique gazebo!

Emotional moment.
Caroline, great job!

The aisle filled with colorful fuchsia rose petals.

A well-matched wedding cake design and the gazebo for wedding ceremony.

Lovely birds under the sunset...

Bride & Groom: Michelle + Vinh
Venue: Padua Hills Theatre
Wedding Planner: Jordan Event Studio
Hair and Makeup: Joyce Luck


Here's Caroline's Bio (in her own words):

I love weddings. Weddings are filled with thoughtful details and emotions, and I love capturing those precious memories. I love telling vivid wedding stories. I put my heart into every photo, so you will see personality, new perspectives, a great story, and life in my photos.

I work unobtrusively, using my mix of photo journalism, candid, and fine-art portraiture style. I document those important moments with the most interesting, truthful and beautiful perspective. I understand how much time and thought is put into each wedding - that's why it is so important to me that you to experience your big day all over again every time you see your pictures.

The opportunity to capture your memories and tell the story of such a special day is truly an honor to me. I enjoy developing relationships with each couple, which allows me to make each set truly unique and memorable.

Caroline, thank you for all the beautiful moments captured in Michelle and Vinh's wedding.


Happy Thursday everyone!

* Epicurean Wednesday *


Asian Flair Dessert Table: Malaysian

I really like the idea of having the dessert table and I am thrilled to know that many of my blog readers and friends actually like that too!

As a Malaysian Chinese, I have been introduced to all kinds of delicious cuisines offered by three major races in Malaysia since young. The three major races are Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Malaysian cuisine is very much influenced by all three races. No doubt, they are all delicious and I miss kuih-muih* so much! (wish I am having a long vacation in Malaysia right now ^.*)
*Kuih-muih = bite-sized steamed desserts

So instead of an American-style dessert table which we have discussed last week, I am going to introduce you to the Malaysian-style dessert table filled with a lot of colorful and flavorful bite-sized cuisine and sweet soups.

- Chinese Cuisine -

Top row (from left to right): Seri Muka from La Maman Gourmande, Seri Muka from My Kitchen Snippets, Kuih Lapis Nyonya (Layered Cake) from High Over Happy
Bottom row: Angku Kueh from My Kitchen Snippets


All Chinese baked breads/buns from My Kitchen Snippets


- Malay Cuisine -

Top (from left to right): Kuih Koci/Glutinous Rice Cake with Coconut Filling from My Kitchen Snippets, Kueh Bakar/Kueh Kemboja from My Kitchen Snippets, Kueh Ubi Kayu/Tapioca Cake from My Kitchen Snippets, Apam Puteri Ayu from Shekin Foods Enterprise
Bottom (from left to right): Kueh Dadar/Kueh Ketayap from 1001Resepi, Kuih Bahulu/Kuih Baulu from Beachlover Kitchen, Pulut Inti/Glutinous Rice Packet from 1001Resepi


(From left to right) Samosa Kentang, Getuk Ubi, Gendang Kasturi - all from Shekin Foods Enterprise, Pisang Goreng/Fried Banana Fritters from Almost Bourdain



- Indian Cuisine -

Custom-designed specialty Sweet & Dessert tables with finest Bengal sweets delicacies complete with color-coordinated table linens and napkins, china, silverware, and fresh floral centerpieces accented with candles, from Premium Sweets

On top of various dessert stations (solid food), we can include the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Specialty Drink Station (which may apply to any dessert station from all three cultural groups shown above). Our DIY station mainly focus on Ais Kacang (aka ABC) and Cendol because most other sweet soups are to be prepared in advance.

Ingredients for ais kacang are red beans, sweet corns, grass jelly, cincao, and palm seeds served with shaved ice and topped with palm sugar syrup, evaporated milk and garnished with some peanuts. Whereas, cendol is even easier...It is just cendol (green jelly), red beans, palm sugar syrup, and coconut milk served with shaved ice.

Top (from left to right): Cendol & Ais Kacang Station from Fondue of Life, Cendol from Grab Your Fork, (top) Cendol from The Journey of My Life, (bottom) Ais Kacang from Grab Your Fork, Cendol from Ipoh Wave
Bottom: Ais Kacang with ice-cream from Chow Times, (top & bottom)Ais Kacang from Grab Your Fork, Ais Kacang Station from Grab Your Fork, Mango Sago Dessert from My Kitchen Snippets, Bubur Gandum from 1001Resepi, Quail Eggs, Lotus Seeds, & Gingko Sweet Soup from Life Loves The Curious, Soy Bean Drink from My Asian Kitchen, Bobor Cha Cha from Grab Your Fork

These are simple and I am sure both adult and children guests will be delightful of trying out the fun and colorful specialty drink station at your reception. People will remember making their own ABC & Cendol at your reception, even months after your wedding.

Isn't it a fun and sweet way to kick start your marriage life? Do you have more creative ideas to share? Please email me at yoursmoment{at}gmail{dot}com. I would love to hear from you.

* Perfect Blooms & Decor Tuesday *


I first came across this wooden shadow box idea from Macy's window display at 34th Street Herald Square, NYC some time ago. Then I immediately thought of having that in a reception as a mini photo gallery to keep your wedding guests entertained while you and your wedding party are away for the after-ceremony photograph session.

This mini photo gallery is a great way to share your happy moments with all wonderful guests at your wedding. You can display photos of your family and friends on the wooden shadow box. For crafty couples who would like to make the wooden shadow box on their own, please click here.

Last week, Ruffled wedding blog has introduced me to another brilliant idea of making full use of the DIY empty picture frame/shadow box. Depending on your wedding theme, you can have different fabricated backdrops as the background of the photos. In addition to the backdrop, your guests will be provided with the wooden frames, blank blackboard for them to write down their wishes/messages to the couple, and maybe some colorful parasols and balloons. It is up to your guests to play around with all props you have prepared for them, the sky is the limit. You will have very unique and special photo collection of all your guests as precious keepsake after your wedding.

Furthermore, the pictures can also be doubled up as personalized wedding favor for each and every one of your guests to take home! To do so, you will need an instant camera (Polaroid) for instant photo printing.

In conclusion, not only the DIY shadow box can be used as an unique decor to your mini photo gallery at reception/cocktail party, it also can be re-used as picture frame for the photo booth and decor for your house after the wedding.


Inspiration:

Pictures taken from my iPhone at Macy's

Props for the Photo Booth: Instant Camera (Polaroid)

(From left to right) Polaroid One600 Ultra Instant Camera from bizrate.com, Polaroid One600 Classic Instant Camera from Gift Genius, Polaroid One600 Job Pro Instant Camera from Sneezeniz.com, Fuji Instax Mini 7 from Sneezeniz.com

Result from Real Weddings: Beautiful and Unique!

From June Bug Weddings

From Wedding Bee

As seen in Ruffled

Simply adore the "re-cycle" idea!