little white dresses for Everything But The...

Dress by - Diane von Furstenberg (Zarita Lace Dress)

Some girls wait their whole lives to wear that white dress on their wedding day, but when it comes down to picking out the perfect style, length and shade, it can be difficult to pick just one! What if you see yourself walking down the aisle in a fitted, lace gown with a long train but can't deny how fun and flirty a lace mini dress would look?

Not to worry! Leading up to your big day there are plenty of occasions in honor and celebration of your engagement and wedding, giving you an excellent excuse for a little white dress (LWD)!

Dress by - Marchesa (Fall 2012)

Taking a note from the popular saying is the idea of the LWD for "Everything But The" wedding! This white dress is your chance to wear a flirty and fun, non-traditional dress that makes you feel your very best, but might not be the best fit for your actual wedding.

The "Everything But The" dress is perfect for your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or after party because it makes it clear that you're the bride. Plus who doesn't look amazing in shades of white and creme?

Dress by - Free People (Lurex Starlight Party Dress)

Thankfully many designers and department stores have taken note of this trend and are currently offering some amazing "Everything But The" dress options! Whether you want to look glamorous, sexy or demure at your upcoming celebration, there's bound to be many couture and budget-friendly choices fresh off this season's runway!

Dresses by - from left to right: Nanette Lepore (Ponderous Dress), Watters (Melbourne Dress)

Monique Lhuillier's current Spring 2012 collection is made up of structured mini dresses that are more fitted and flirtatious while her Fall 2012 collection offers playful, pocketed dresses that remind me whimsical springtime sundresses.

Dresses by - Monique Lhuillier, top row, from left to right: Taylor Dress, Pippa Dress (Spring 2012); bottom row, from left to right: Posey Dress, Lili Dress (Fall 2012)

BHLDN, much like their mother company, Anthropologie, is showing dresses with a cool, retro vibe in a number of different styles, from sheaths to baby-dolls.

Dresses by - BHLDN, top row, from left to right: Saturnalia Dress, Dainty Diversion Mini, Tracery Dress; bottom row, from left to right: Spun Sugar Shift, Quatrefoil Sheath, For Esme Dress

You can also check out tons of online stores such as Net-a-Porter and the British shop, Asos, as well as American department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales for other great options!

Dresses by - top row, all available at Asos online, from left to right: Asos Brand (Skater Dress with Lace and Mesh), Whistles (Large Spot Dress), TFNC (One Shoulder Dress); bottom row, all available at Nordstrom online, from left to right: Maggy London (Tie Waist Metallic Lace Sheath), Antik Batik (Ilka Sequined Tulle Dress), Nordstrom BP Brand (En Creme Lace Illusion Dress)

As you can see, the options for fun little white dresses are seemingly limitless! When choosing your dress for your upcoming bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or after party, just make sure to pick something that speaks to your personal style and your beautiful bride-to-be glow will do the rest of the work!

**This post can also be seen on the blog for Stellina Events, a New York and San Francisco-based wedding and special events planning and design consultancy for which I have interned since November 2011. The Stellina Events article, posted on January 26, 2012 can be seen here**

"let them eat cake!"

Credit: Cake Coquette / Photo credit: Elizabeth Messina

Marie Antoinette definitely got the dessert right when she famously declared, "Let them eat cake," but perhaps she wouldn't have endured the same fate if she had thought of additional sweet options that her subjects might enjoy. Cake is delightful and delectable to many taste buds and eyes alike, and while some palates do crave the traditional white tiered wedding cake, others adore cake but desire even more to make their wedding that much sweeter.

As you'll see below, there are some terrific cake choices, as well as alternative desserts that can be used in place of, or in addition to, a wedding cake.

Credit: Nine Cakes / Photo credit: Di Zhang

One great thing about the traditional wedding cake is the opportunity that it provides to demonstrate your creativity and visually represent your personality. If you and your fiance have a particular affection for peacocks, for instance, or if you're looking to surprise your new husband with a separate groom's cake with a symbol from his favorite sports team, a fun, personalized wedding cake would be a wonderful option!

Credit: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes / Photo credit: Mel Barlow

Photo credit: Entwined Studio

Wedding cakes also offer a visual continuity with a wedding's design aesthetic or theme. For instance, if your wedding is working within a coral, cream and slate gray color scheme then a feminine, pink-ombre cake would be a beautiful visual accompaniment to the rest of the wedding.

Whether your wedding is a more classic, art deco themed or lavender-strewn rustic affair, there is a wedding cake and a cake designer out there who can make your cake dreams come true!

Photo credit: Stephen Hughes

Photo credit: Ashleigh Taylor Photography

Photo credit: Lane Dittoe

Variations on the classic layered cake have recently become a popular trend, and can range from the rustic, vintage look of stacked Bundt cakes to individual cake pops that lend themselves to a more playful and whimsical vibe.

Photo credit: Our Labor of Love

Photo credit: Emona Hennen Photography

Providing small bites, like a cookie buffet or candy table is another option that gives you and your guests freedom when deciding on a tantalizing treat. If your fete is set to be fresh and sophisticated, perhaps French cookies like macarons or madeleines will work well with your reception venue and menu.

Photo credit: Anne McGowan Photography

Photo credit: Weddings by Two

If you're leaning towards a casual, outdoor environment with a menu incorporating all of your favorite comfort foods then chocolate chip cookies with milk shooters could be a perfect complement to your coffee service!

Photo credit: A Bryan Photography

A candy table is a wonderful option particularly if you're planning on hosting a great number of children (or young-spirited adults!) and can also double as a make-your-own-wedding-favor station at the reception.

Photo credit: Evin Photography

Photo credit: Leslie Walker

Assorted pies (apple, pecan, key lime, cherry, whichever you prefer!) or fruit tarts are a great dessert choice for a casual backyard or country rustic wedding. This option offers variety to you and your guests and satiates all sorts of different palates.

Photo credit: Jessica Claire

Photo credit: Ryan Ray Photography

To go along with a pie theme, you can even throw in a meat and vegetable pie during your cocktail hour, especially if your or someone close to you lacks that sweet tooth.

Or if you and your fiance would both prefer a savory alternative to a wedding cake and have a history of attending or hosting wine and cheese parties together then stacked fine cheeses and fruit could be a perfect way to end your wedding day!

Photo credit: Browns Photography

Go on and get inspired! The perfect cake and desserts are out there for you just waiting to be found.

While the late Mrs. Louis XIV may have started us all off in the right direction in terms of ending our weddings on a sweet note, it's nice to know that there are endless possibilities when it comes to after-dinner treats!

** An edited version of this post can also be seen on the blog for Stellina Events, a New York and San Francisco-based wedding and special events planning and design consultancy for which I have interned since November 2011. The Stellina Events article, posted on December 15, 2011 can be seen here**

wedding backdrops for personalized pizzazz

Outdoor ceremonies gained popularity in the 1960s when hippie couples looked for a way to make their commitment to each other a simultaneous statement against mainstream culture. While today outdoor ceremonies have become a more traditional choice for weddings, they still offer an opportunity for couples to express their individuality and creativity.

Photo credit: Delbarr Moradi

Outdoor ceremonies certainly offer beauty in their natural surroundings, but they also serve as a naturally beautiful canvas for any additions a couple may want to make to their wedding design to highlight their own personalities.

Photo credit: Ashley Rose Photography

Photo credit: Sean Walker Photography

Ceremony backdrops can be hung, stood or posted behind the bride and groom, and work to highlight (or substitute) an altar.

Photo credit: Steven Michael Photography

Some of the greatest ceremony backdrops are made from simple props such as picture frames, pinwheels, lanterns and flowers, as well as materials like tulle, lace, streamers and pom poms.

Photo credit: Jose Villa

Photo credit: Ashley Garmon Photography

These pieces add a touch of originality to any outdoor venue and can also be easily incorporated within the scenery, allowing the outdoor space to really speak for itself!

Photo credit: Kristen Marie Photography

Backdrops are a great choice for creative brides and grooms who want to play to the beauty of the natural environment and work with the surroundings of the outdoor space, not against it. In this way they make their altar space (and thus themselves) the visual focal point of the day... just as it should be!

Photo credit: Untamed Heart Photography

** This post can also be seen on the blog for Stellina Events, a New York and San Francisco-based wedding and special events planning and design consultancy for which I have interned since November 2011. The Stellina Events article, posted on November 23, 2011 can be seen here**

single blooms

for brides seeking a chic and modern approach to the flowers on her wedding day might i suggest considering a single bloom bouquet. a single flower still makes an impact but won't overpower or outshine a bride on her special day.

these single flower arrangements are simple but utterly sophisticated and offer an understated elegance to any bride or bridal party. the effortless grace of these bouquets makes them the perfect choice for any wedding theme or aesthetic.

single blooms can be used in bouquets as well as in table arrangements, centerpieces and throughout your decor, so they're budget-friendly and eco-friendly too!

(single blooms sparkling here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

** This post can also be seen on the blog for Stellina Events, a New York and San Francisco-based wedding and special events planning and design consultancy for which I have interned since November 2011. The Stellina Events article, posted on November 17, 2011 can be seen here**