There is a common thread that runs through fashion shows and weddings where models and brides are similar in many ways. Whether it’s on the runway or on the street, the influence of style is everywhere. Both have an audience, strive for the ultimate beauty, and are preparing for an unforgettable moment.

Capturing that special moment has many components, which requires an eye for design. From choosing a memorable location, the décor’ of the atmosphere, and most importantly - the perfect dress, the influence of style is everywhere.
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Did you know? Fashion Inspires Design.

Alexander McQueen | Women\'s Autumn/Winter 2012 | Runway Show

“There’s blood beneath every layer of skin”

“[In this collection] She was a feral creature living in the tree.
When she decided to descend to earth, she was transformed into a princess”

-Alexander McQueen

What designers inspire your events this year?

Celebrity weddings always have and always will influence the masses. Women of every generation have had a favorite celebrity bride to look up to: Think of Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana and more modern brides, such as Gwen Stefani and Ivanka Trump (whose wedding was designed by none other than Preston Bailey, who has a signature course through LWPI).

Photo Courtesy of People

So far in 2011 we’ve had a few celebrity weddings to ooh and ahh over, most notably the recent nuptials of Reese Witherspoon, who married celebrity agent Jim Toth. Their wedding took place in March at the couple’s ranch in Ojai, Calif. Witherspoon, who readily admits she is Southern to her core, mixed those Southern roots with the vintage theme of her 1920s home. Witherspoon also wowed guests with her choice of a pink custom gown designed by Monique Lhuillier. According to People, it was a “blush-hued gown with a Chantilly lace corset bodice and full tulle A-line skirt,” and “was adorned with a double-face silk satin ribbon with cascading silk flowers, which matched the dress of Witherspoon’s daughter Ava, 11, who served as maid of honor in her own custom Lhuillier.” Witherspoon also followed in the trend of other modern brides by changing into a second gown for her reception, “a second Lhuillier design – a white silk minidress with a party skirt.”

Going with a colored wedding gown is a trend that LWPI is seeing a lot of, and we asked you what you thought about Witherspoon’s choice of pink on our Facebook page. Among the answers we received were, “She’s gorgeous! that color looks beautiful on her!” and “It suited her that it was pink, however the fit was terrible and so was her hair.” In fact, when we asked about her choice to wear her hair down, you said, “She’s gorgeous no matter what, but I would have liked to see her hair up, maybe in a low chignon or something just off her shoulders.” (By the way: We hear that Hugh Hefner’s fiancee, Crystal Harris, is also going with a pink gown. We shall see in the coming months - this is definitely a wedding that the wedding-obsessed are waiting on!)

Photo Courtesy of Pop Sugar

Also on LWPI’s radar was Michael Buble’s first and second weddings (yes! and there’s a third in the works!) to his Argentinian girlfriend, Luisana Loreley Lopilato de la Torre. Their first ceremony, a civil one, was performed de la Torre’s hometown of Buenos Aires. She chose a simple lilac sundress and silver heels when the couple first said “I do.” A couple of days later the pair went a more formal route, with Buble in a tuxedo and his bride in a silk chiffon, V-neck, Marchesa gown with embroidered waist. Their second ceremony was performed in a mansion outside of Buenos Aires. Their third ceremony will be performed at a later date in Buble’s native Canada. We wonder what style the couple will go with for their third celebration…

With these two weddings now in the books, and other celebrity weddings to come, one thing is clear: Candy-colored gowns are all the rage this year. As certified wedding and event coordinators are you seeing more brides choose colored gowns over white ones?

This is a very common question, especially because so many brides are falling into this category.

According to Wikipedia, anyone who is size 14 and up is considered plus size. Now if you ask me, this is a VERY large number of brides that are consistently being overlooked. We as certified wedding and event planners have to be considerate to this fact and ensure that we are doing everything we can to meet all brides’ needs, especially this growing group.

When dealing with a plus-size bride we have to realize that everything a regular bride wants is exactly what a plus size bride wants - an AMAZING wedding.

The main component of planning a wedding for a plus-size bride is bringing to light the different options and resources available in their attire. Plus-size wedding gowns have improved by leaps and bounds from the days of frumpy, dull, non-sexy frocks to vibrant, sexy, form-fitting delights of the eye. Planners need to be informed and educated on the different types of dresses and which materials and shapes will be the most appealing to a plus-size bride.

It is our duty, as certified wedding and event planners, to make sure that our brides get the attention and dedication that they deserve and appreciate that there are all types and shapes to everyone.

Be sure to visit Shafonne’s website, read her new plus-size bride blog, follow her on Twitter, and read more about her in this LWPI Instructor Spotlight.

Wedding trends come and go, but there is one current trend that’s hard to ignore because it’s popping up everywhere: the vintage look. Whether you’re a bride or a certified wedding planner there is tons of inspiration out there for incorporating vintage details into your event. Here are a few of our favorite ways to put a vintage spin on your weddings.

Photo Courtesy of Posh Girl Vintage

It goes without saying that vintage weddings are also green weddings, even if the bride or wedding planner isn’t purposefully going in an environmentally conscious direction. For the serious green bride, however, a vintage wedding gown is a must. Most big cities have clothing stores that collect and sell vintage clothing, and a bride who starts early and checks often may find the vintage gown of her dreams at such a store. Online clothiers are also a good place to look, and a certified wedding and event coordinator is a great person to turn to for advice on which sites are the best to work with. A bride choosing a vintage gown should remember, however, that tailoring will almost definitely be required so going vintage isn’t always the least expensive option. And of course vintage wedding gowns aren’t the only kind available - bridesmaids can also wear vintage pieces! This may give off a more eclectic vibe, however, because it can be difficult to find several vintage gowns in the same style. Going with a specific hue, or choosing gowns of many different colors - which is very popular right now - is a great idea for many brides. Check out these beautiful vintage gowns featured on Style Me Pretty.

What are some other ways to incorporate vintage details into your wedding?
* Choose an era then just let your creativity flow! Feathers, brooches, antique liquor bottles, and Art Deco decor all hearken back to the 1920s. Soda fountains, tea-length gowns, muted colors, and birdcage veils recall the 1950s.
* Choose music that corresponds with the vintage era you were inspired by. Classic jazz? Elvis and Sinatra? Motown? Just go with it!
* Black and white photos of family members or famous celebrity couples are sure to give off a vintage vibe.
* And don’t forget the makeup and hair! Every era has had very distinct fashion when it comes to makeup and hair design. Short and tightly curled? Beehives? Bright red lipstick? Look it up and make your beauty ideas fall right into step with your fashion plans.

Here are some sites we’ve gathered to get your creativity flowing:
* Six Easy, Vintage Wedding Style Ideas
* Photos of vintage ideas from The Knot
* Vintage Glam Inspiration at Style Me Pretty

Have you ever planned a vintage-inspired wedding? What details did you incorporate?

With last night’s Oscars ceremony award season has come to a close. Anyone interested or involved in the wedding-planning business pays close attention to such shows because brides and likewise, bridal-gown designers, are watching Hollywood’s finest stars to see what trends are up and coming, such as color, cut and length.

Photo Courtesy of Small Screen Scoop.

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

The Oscars proved that one way to go with color this year is soft and feminine. Two of our favorite gowns were worn by Mila Kunis (in Elie Saab) and Cate Blanchett (in Givenchy). While the purple hues aren’t exactly the same they’re in the same color family. Soft, sweet and feminine are what we’d call this color. It would be beautiful for spring weddings, and it’s an easy color for matching flowers as it’s so abundant in nature.

Photo Courtesy of OK Magazine.

Photo Courtesy of Just Jared.

Another color trend we noticed on the Oscars red carpet was bold and sassy. Two stars who took their fashion this way were Jennifer Hudson (in Versace) and Sandra Bullock (in Vera Wang). Hudson went with a tangerine color, and Bullock chose a gorgeous bright red. Such colors as red and orange are great for weddings with a fun and funky edge. While they can be overwhelming if overused, they’re perfect accent colors and can be beautiful on bridesmaids - if the right bridesmaid gown is chosen.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images

Another wedding trend already in our sights is the vintage style. Reese Witherspoon (in Armani) just screamed vintage to us with her high, full ponytail and classic black and white gown. This gown choice made us wonder if Reese is leaning toward a vintage theme for her own upcoming wedding.

Which gowns did you like best? Did you see any trends that are bound to make their way onto the wedding aisle this year?

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too. Having this kind of information available to potential bridal clients is a good idea for certified wedding and event planners. Plus contacting this type of business expands your vendor contact base.

Photo Courtesy of Coastal Cleaners Inc.

True story. A recent bride called this morning because she found a care label inside her gown with our number in it. She took her $9,000 Ines di Santo wedding gown to her local dry cleaner, and now ”it looks all wrinkled.” Unfortunately I hear the same story all too often, and it is usually because some cleaner who is not familiar with designer gowns has decided to wash the gown in water. Once the gown’s finish has been damaged in that way, the look of the gown can sometimes be improved by a Specialist, but it will never look as beautiful as it once did. Heartbreaking!

Even if the cost of your wedding gown is only a few hundred dollars, why risk its beauty by taking it just anywhere to be cleaned? You wouldn’t take a car you really cared about to the local gas station for repairs, and choosing the right person to care for your gown is important. Begin by looking at the label in your wedding gown. You will find that many designers use our Association’s care labels and recommend brides bring their gowns to one of our Specialists. Then you should ask lots of questions before trusting your gown to anyone. And if you are not happy with the answers to your questions, keep looking until you are. It is worth taking the extra time so that your gown, too, will have a happy ever-after!

Viktor & Rolf, a fashion house based in Amsterdam, is known for its creation of super-strong silhouettes and menswear line. In its newly shown line Viktor & Rolfe take the predictable man’s button-down shirt and morph it into, what else? Wedding gowns. While these strong, fashionable pieces aren’t exactly what every bride is looking for we think several aspects of the designs are likely to show up in other, more-predictable designer lines. The buttons are a great feature, and the strong, belted look is likely to blow up into a huge trend. (First it was pockets, now belts.)

We have to admit that one of our favorite parts of this show was the shoes. In the last few years brides have started shying away from typical, white bridal shoes and ballet flats and have started showcasing their personalities with shoes in bold colors. For brides with the right budget, a pair of designer shoes - zebra-stripe, anyone? - will most definitely be all the rage in this year’s spring and summer weddings.

What did you see in this clip that you think is destined to be a trend? Certified wedding and event planners would be smart to take a section of their inspiration folder and dedicate it to high-fashion and ways to incorporate high-fashion ideas into smaller budgets.

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. You can also check out these previous post, which includes an interview with Sally, to hear more about why it’s important to preserve a wedding gown in an appropriate and timely manner. And be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too.

The instructions on the care label inside your wedding gown tell you the best way to clean it. Not true. The label’s directions for wedding gown care may not be the only way—or even the best way—to clean the gown. The care label simply means that if a cleaner follows the instructions, and your wedding gown is damaged by the cleaning process, then the manufacturer is liable for the damage. That’s why you will sometimes see instructions such as “Do not dryclean. Do not wetclean. Spot clean only.” This language absolutely protects the manufacturer from any liability because the manufacturer is essentially telling you that the wedding gown cannot be cleaned. However, if you can find an experienced cleaner who specializes in wedding gowns, a Specialist will know how to clean your gown successfully. Click here to find a Certified Wedding Gown Specialist near you www.WeddingGownSpecialists.com/locator.htm

Blue tissue should be used to package your wedding gown. Not true. There is usually a little truth in an old wives’ tale, and we know, for example, that an apple a day really is good for us. But blue tissue paper is NOT good for wedding gowns, and no one really knows why it was supposed to be good for wrapping wedding gowns. It may have something to do with bluing. There is a written reference to bluing as early as the seventeenth century, and bluing comes from indigo, a naturally alkaline substance that can neutralize any acidic content that might cause yellowing. Bluing also adds a trace of blue dye to fabric, which, again, offsets any yellowish cast in white fabric. In the 1920s and 1930s, wedding gowns were often wrapped in a deep blue paper, but the paper was waxed, and the wax prevented the acidic content of the paper from damaging the gown.

Whatever the history behind this idea, blue tissue is absolutely the wrong thing to use for preserving your wedding gown. Blue tissue is not acid-free and, worse yet, the paper will, if it gets wet, dye your gown blue. Only white, completely acid-free, which means all acidic content was removed and not just neutralized, tissue and completely acid-free wedding chests should be used for your wedding gown preservation .

Your wedding gowns should always be sealed in plastic. Not true. Most textile conservators warn against storing fabrics in plastic or plastic-wrapped containers because plastic traps moisture that can allow mildew to grow. Desiccants are sometimes added to plastic-wrapped containers to absorb the moisture, but they have a very limited capacity and must then be replaced—which, of course, destroys the seal on the package. Then, too, unless the plastic is chemically inert, it can emit fumes that yellow your gown. That’s why your gown should never be stored in a plastic garment bag. Still another problem with plastic: plastic sets up an electrostatic charge that, together with the trapped moisture, can permanently set wrinkles in your wedding gown that no amount of pressing can remove.

Taking your wedding gown out of the wedding chest will damage your gown. Not true. Be very wary of preservation services that void their guarantees if the seal is broken. There is no inherent reason why your gown cannot be taken out of the container for inspection, and the service may just be hiding problems such as leftover stains or damage from the cleaning process. On the other hand, it really is not necessary to take your gown out of the container and refold it on a regular basis. If your gown has been packed properly, the folds of your gown are buffered with tissue that prevents sharp creases, and it is a law that if something can happen it will. In other words, every time you handle a precious object such as your wedding gown, there is the potential for danger, and the day your gown is removed from the container is the day the roof leaks or it rubs against a dirty wall. If you do choose to take your wedding gown out of the chest, be very sure your gown is opened in an area that is safe from such hazards—and safe from pets or small children, too. Also, wear white cotton gloves so the oils in your skin do not transfer to your gown.

All guarantees are the same. Not true. All guarantees are definitely not the same. If you read carefully, you will find most guarantees simply refund the cost of the cleaning and preservation—even if the service damages your gown during the process. Look for a service that stands behind the work regardless of the cost of the gown and ask who is going to stand behind the guarantee–now or twenty-five years from now!

Every year Pantone, the world’s leader in color, comes out with its top color choices for spring. A few months ago it chose for 2011 the following, according to Fabsugar: Violet ranked in as number one for its exciting yet cool tone; Tomato Puree made its mark as the passionate color of choice; Fusion Coral was chosen for its flattering nature to all skin tones; and Amparo Blue was picked for its warm undertones.

We think it’s safe to say that the upcoming spring wedding season is going to be filled - and fueled - by color, lots and lots of bright, fun color! We envision bridesmaids in gorgeous, jewel-colored gowns and receptions filled with bright, beautiful candy buffets. We also think a lot of brides will take a walk on the funkier side by choosing fun, colorful shoes and accessories. And as for flowers? Anything goes! Tomato-colored poppies would be gorgeous, as would classic coral roses or bright purple irises.

Which of these colors speaks to you? How would you incorporate them into the weddings you design?