Vintage-Inspired Pillows

Take a look at these gorgeous, vintage-inspired ring pillows from Etsy! Click on the photo to get a close-up of the intricate details.

(Top left: EmiciBridal; Top right: paperhill; Bottom left: ElmoandIke; Bottom right: tinarie 21)

Real Wedding: Vivian & James

Thanks so much to Vivian and James for sharing their beautiful wedding photos! My husband and I have a special connection to this couple, not only because they are dear friends of ours, but also because we had our weddings at the same place! That is, Leonard's La Dolce Vita in Great Neck, NY -- a venue inspired by the renaissance era with spectacular crystal chandeliers, pure white marble floors, charming handpainted murals, and rich, European decor that exudes elegance and luxury. Ah~

Viv and James are impeccably stylish and so was their wedding -- take a look for yourself...

Love the bouquet -- it's simple and pretty without any pretension, but the size makes a bold statement!

LOVE the hair!!! The side sweeping with the delicate braids -- simply gorgeous! It's one of the most unique hairstyles I've ever seen on a bride. Viv, you look like royalty!

Dresses for Less

Let's be real for a moment... as ugly as it sounds, we are in the midst of a "recession" right now, so here's a smart, budget-friendly place to buy your dream wedding gown for less. That is, if you don't mind buying a dress that has been worn by another bride before. A small sacrifice to make for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings. Visit www.OnceWed.com to see a listing of dresses currently for sale. Or, post your own dress for sale and make a few bucks!

Originally $3,500, this Monique Lhuillier gown is being resold at $1,500

Originally $4,600, this Reem Acra gown is being resold at $1,700

Feeling Charitable? Visit The Bridal Garden

The Bridal Garden is the only non-profit bridal boutique in New York City that offers designer wedding gowns at up to 75% off original prices! They carry gowns from designers such as Amsale, Melissa Sweet, Reem Acra, Monique Lhullier, Maggie Sottero, Angel Sanchez, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, and many more. They've been around since 1998 and all proceeds from sales go to improving the education of the city's children. Now, that's an amazing business model, don't you think? Where else can you shop for a wedding gown at significantly discounted prices, and know that your money is going to a good cause? By the way, you can also donate your gown to The Bridal Garden after your wedding, so another lucky customer can purchase it and keep the cycle going!

The Bridal Garden has been featured in InStyle, The New York Times, Modern Bride, and many other magazines, newspapers, and websites.

Make an appointment and visit them at 54 W. 21st Street, Suite 907. And of course, please tell us all about your experience right here on BlabberBride!!

A tribute to an all-time favorite...The Wedding Planner

The Wedding Planner... it's the movie that started it all for me! This movie was released in 2001, the year I graduated from college. As you can imagine, like many twenty-something year olds, I was lost and desperately looking for something to inspire me. I had gone from thinking I'd be a lawyer to possibly a psychologist, to then finally, joining the corporate world like the millions of other lost souls. Don't get me wrong... I have a nice, cushy job at a well-respected company. I don't want to seem ungrateful. It's just that my inspiration doesn't come from my 9-5 job. It comes from all the beautiful, stylish, and creative things that make a wedding. In hindsight, I think it was this movie... The Wedding Planner ... that sparked my obsession -- an obsession that has lasted for eight years now.

Here are a few fabulous photos from the movie. They feature three different wedding gowns -- all spectacular in their own way! Enjoy...

The Movie: BrideWars

Kate Hudson looked amazing in this Vera Wang wedding dress in the movie Bride Wars where she stars alongside Anne Hathaway. Ladies, it's all about the poof in this dress!!


Anne Hathaway looked elegant and understated in her ivory dress (don't know the designer).

Stunning Short Wedding Dresses

If you've got nice legs, flaunt them in one of these gorgeous, shorter length dresses! I'm in love with them ALL...

from Priscilla of Boston






from Cymbeline

from Amsale

Custom Cake Toppers

I am a HUGE fan of Etsy! Check out these adorable, custom designed wedding cake toppers by GooseGrease. You can submit a photo of you and your fiance, and they'll create miniature (3.5" tall) figures for your cake!

Amazing Canary Diamonds!

For DIY brides

I can't believe it's already 2009! I haven't posted anything new in over 3 months! I've been so busy with my full-time corporate job (yes yes, a woman needs to pay her bills!) and the invitations business I started on the side last April (yay!), that I really haven't had a chance to sit down in front of the computer and just blab about the thing I love most -- weddings! Well, today, I'm compelled to post because I've discovered two amazing websites that I must share. The first site is www.save-on-crafts.com. It's a treasure trove for all those do-it-yourself brides who want to create their own, unique wedding decor! You'll find everything from ribbons, tulle, and silk to those tall, curly branches, glass vases, candles, crystals, and so much more. If you're thinking about creating your own reception centerpieces to save some money, this is a great place to start!

The second site is www.zazzle.com. This cool site allows you to design your own postage stamps to personalize your wedding invitation envelopes. You can also custom design your own postcards -- a cute and modern twist to traditional save-the-date cards for your guests!
Both of these sites are so fun and they offer very affordable options for the creative DIY brides out there. Enjoy!