Destination wedding / Hats

I know it looks like we are going Royal Wedding crazy and I admit we are a little!  Kate Middleton will take up the baton for British and Irish fashion designers and become one of the most photographed women in the world.  As she steps in to this roll I am delighted to say she is already a great ambassador for the Milinery industry and promoter of the Fascinator.

 The summer social season is upon us and the wedding invitations are dropping through the mail box, women all over the world are thinking about what outfits to wear to this years weddings and social events. In the UK women women start hat hunting for the summer 'season' as soon as the boat race is over if not before. This year with the Royal wedding Milliners are going to be rocketed to stardom on the back of a hat! 

This summer, I am organising a wedding for a very stylish couple and I already know that a lot of their guests will be flying the flag for milliners, as they adorn their heads with works of art. There is just something so elegant and beautiful about a lady complimenting her outfit with a hat...

With the rise of the fascinator it  is now indisputably the formal head wear of choice. Whether it is at Ascot, christenings, Royal weddings or any other society event that demands statement headgear, it’s hats off to the fascinator.  It is also easy to pack for your destination wedding!

Destination guests coming to a wedding in Italy don't have to go for the more elaborate Philip Tracy creations, even the smallest bejeweled comb can change your outfit. Lets take a look at some ideas:

 Stunning curled goose feather fascinator by talented milliner Jane Taylor

Small and perfectly formed, this hat is perfect for any event.

I adore Gina Foster's hats!

Ispirato Silver Fascinator from Belles and Beaux

So ladies, be it a fascinator, a small, medium or large hat the main thing is to have fun with it and enjoy celebrating your friends wedding in style!

Source

Summer Time Wedding...


Summer time in Italy can see temperatures rocket, especially in the mid day heat! When organising summer weddings we have to take into consideration the well-being and comfort of the wedding party.  

Here are our top tips to keeping everyone cool in the sun on your wedding day...

• If you are transporting your guests from your venue to the Church or town hall put a bottle of water on each chair. Tip your bus driver and ask him to put out another bottle of water for the guests for the return journey.
• You might want to put travel sized sun cream in a basket on the bus just in case Uncle Tom needs some for his head!
• Most town halls and Churches will be cool but once 100 people enter the room it soon starts to heat up. Brides, try not to be too late so your guests don't wilt and your groom does not start to pace!
• A lot of couples ask for Ice cream on exiting the ceremony, unfortunately this is not advisable as it will melt. Take your guests for a short walk through the town (great for photos) to the ice cream parlor and arrange for there to be trays of ice cream ready to hand out.
• You have thought about your guests, but don't forget most old cars will not have Air con, make sure there is water in the car for the Bride and Groom!
• If you are having an outdoor ceremony, waiting until later in the day when it begins to cool down will help.
• Offer shade to your guests.
• Giving out fans is a lovely way to welcome your guests to the ceremony.

Invitations: Wedding in Rome!

Pamela and Alan are getting married in Rome this summer, I am sure it is going to be a very beautiful and stylish wedding. The attention to detail is already evident with their beautiful bespoke wedding invitations and information booklets. Although as the owners of Farrell and Chase, I would not have expected anything less from a couple who produce such stunning wedding stationary.  

Let's take a peek at what a bride, in the business of printing others wedding invitations, would choose for her destination wedding in Roma!

''I went searching for a stamp that would compliment our stationery suite, the An Post Wedding Stamp or 2010 just didn’t suit at all, so I looked through their website and came across their Stamp Issues section. As soon as I saw the Czeslaw Slania I knew it was perfect. The stamp depicts a scene from the ballet Romeo and Juliet, how fitting, and the colours of the etching were perfect!''

''We wanted to provide our guests with all the information they would need to book their flights, accommodation and to plan their trip to Rome. We included in the wedding booklet a map of Rome, information about our favourite sights, restaurants, cafes and bars. We wanted to share our love for Rome with our guests giving them a sense of why we chose Rome as our wedding destination.''

Last minute destination wedding in Italy

When is the right time to start planning a destination wedding in Italy? In an ideal world I would say give yourself  just over a year, that way you will get the opportunity to visit the venue at the same time of year your wedding will be celebrated.



My advice is book as far in advance as you can, so that it makes it less likely you will miss out on the venue or the photographer of your dreams etc.

Recently I have noticed a higher number of last minute requests from couples wishing to get married in Italy, which is great as we work well under pressure and are very capable of arranging beautiful weddings in a very short amount of time.

If you are booking a late wedding in Italy, unless it is a symbolic or you are already legally married but would like a religious blessing,  give yourself a minimum of 2 to 3 months to get all the paperwork together. If you would like a religious blessing or a symbolic wedding please contact us to discuss you options and possible dates from as early as this May!  

For more information on destination weddings you might be interested to read previous posts:

http://tiwp.blogspot.com/2010/06/destination-guest.html

http://tiwp.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-5-reasons-for-destination-wedding.html

Laura and Chris's Tuscan wedding part 2

Laura and Chris's stunning wedding in Tuscany was split over two days, click here to view their civil wedding in Italy.  Laura is an inspiration, she not only hand made her first wedding dress she also made her bridesmaids dresses! Their wedding was full of beautiful personal touches, Laura's attention to detail and her personal style shines through on her very special day!  Let's not forget the Groom who was looking dapper in an Aquascutum suit and Ferragamo shoes (a nod to the owner of Il Borro!) for the civil ceremony!



Laura looking radiant in a dress by Emma Hope

I just adore her bouquet by  Noosheens’ designs florists from Rome 

Chris and his grooms men wore suits from from Hire Wear Direct. He also bought a waistcoat from Favourbrook which made his outfit different from the others. Laura's mother in law made all the men cravats from the same fabric as the bridesmaid dresses.

Please click this link to view part 1

Beautiful photos by Butler Madden Weddings

Also featured in Before the big day

Glamorous wedding weekends in Italy

This look is great for a formal party that located at near beach or formal pool party.

Chanel Spring Summer collection 2011

A destination bride does not just have to think about her Wedding dress but she also has to think about all the outfits for the other events surrounding her wedding day. After all, everyone has traveled to spend the weddingmoon with bridal couple and all eyes will be on the bride!

This year we have several  wedding's where timeless elegance and glamor are the key elements. One of out bridal couples, getting married in Venice, have invited their guests to a host of events including  a black tie rehearsal dinner on the Grand  Canal  and a day on a yacht cruising the Venetian lagoon!


It has me thinking about old fashioned glamorous wedding weekends in one of the most glamorous countries in the world, Italy! Be it a high society wedding in Venice or a chic wedding in Ravello, a country wedding in Tuscany or a intimate wedding on Pantelleria let's bring back Glamour!

Collette Dinnigan is one of my favourite wedding dress and formal wear designers.
Issa London's beautiful vivid colours in the 2011 collection are stunning mixed with feminine tailoring .

Issa Spring 2011

Audrey Hepburn style cigarette  pants by Lara Miller are a timeless dress up or down wardrobe must!

D&G spring/summer 2011 offer a fresh floaty maxi dress for 2011

Heidi Klein is your one-stop destination holiday shop for bikinis and swimsuits to flip-flops and kaftans

Heidi Klein

With exquisite designs and bold styles Caterina Zangrando offer key pieces that will dress up any outfit and add a quirky sense o fun. Definitely one to watch!

Let us not forget.... Shoes!

These perfect summer strappy sandals in chic patent leather are a new addition for CHOO
I think I will have to do a blog just on shoes!

Top 5 reasons for a destination wedding



Wedding in Rome



Not that you need 5 reasons to have a destination wedding in Italy but we thought we would post this anyway...

1) You Actually Spend Time With Your Guests - At a destination wedding, your guests typically stay a day or two, so there is more opportunity to interact and spend time with them compared to a standard 5-hour wedding at home.

 2) Cost - Destination weddings are not as expensive as you might think. In fact, most destination weddings are considerably less expensive than traditional weddings (assuming you are not paying for travel for your entire guest list). You should also keep in mind even if it compairs to the costs of a wedding at home you get so much more for your money hosting your wedding in Italy!

 3) Every Wedding Requires Travel Now - When was the last time you went to a wedding and nobody had to travel?  No matter where you hold your wedding, over half the guests would have to travel somewhere. So why not have everyone travel to Italy? The location for your wedding shouldn't just be where it's convenient, it should be where you want to get married.

  4) You Like To Travel - If you are a person that wants to see the world, travel and experiance other coltures why not make it a part of your wedding? Few things in this world could be more romantic than a destination wedding in Italy. The country's natural beauty, rich cultural history, and fantastic food lend itself perfectly to a destination wedding.

 5) It Minimizes Tensions - Once you've made the big decision to have a destination wedding, everything else is easy. There's less to fight about with fiancé or parents or future in-laws. Really. I promise.


So, my recommendation to everyone is to have a destination wedding. Take a leap  of faith and be prepared to have the most amazing day of your life!

Wedding trends in 2011

 



As January closes the start of the trends for couples getting married in Italy in 2011 are becoming apparent. With couples slowly recovering from a negative economic situation, strategic spending is the new frugal and over-the-top extravagance will be toned down to a new era of "casual" traditional. Wedding dress designs will focus on texture rather than colour, and cakes will become more subtle and less of a production. Grooms will assist in more of the wedding planning duties to ensure the big day is a reflection of both people involved and wedding videography will make a comeback...

• It will be a defining year for wedding photography in 2011. Quality, professional wedding photographers will keep their current rates while amateur photographers will budget discount themselves out of competition. Brides are beginning to understand that the cheapest photography doesn’t necessarily mean the best photography.

• The Groupon trend will embrace the bridal market and begin offering deep discounts for group buying opportunities.

• Intimate weddings were hugely popular in 2010 and it will remain strong in 2011. Smaller guest lists allow a cosy, more personal celebration.

•  Eco-friendly weddings will begin to take on a vintage flair with used organic and natural fibres wedding dresses paving the way.

• Bridal hairpieces will be huge in 2011. Handmade tiaras and heirloom veils will become a very important wedding accessory.

• Expect to see more professional wedding videography at formal wedding events. It’s best to let the pros capture the entire production instead of relying on uncle Bob.

• Couples are going to go back to the more traditional Italian wedding cake where taste trumps design.

• New 2011 Wedding dresses will begin replacing bold ruffle designs with softer tulle accents.

• The champagne toast will make a comeback. The first thing most couples removed from their wedding reception budgets in 2010 was the luxury expense of champagne. A trend in smaller weddings now keeps this cost reasonable.

• Grooms will begin choosing wedding suits from Italian designers over traditional wedding tuxedos. 

•  More couples will turn away from traditional wedding invitations for DIY invitations and making their own web pages as a way to cut costs.

• More long tables will be seen in 2011 with beautiful table runners pulling it together.

 

• Although ipods can be a financial-friendly alternative to hiring a professional wedding DJ or band, the word is getting out that one thing you don’t want to have to stress about on your wedding day is the music.

• Wedding brunches will gain popularity in 2011. This is a fresh alternative to the traditional rehearsal dinner.

• Additional events over the wedding weekend or wedding week will still be popular.

• Top Italian wedding destinations in 2011 are Venice and the Veneto, Siena and the Tuscan countryside, the Amalfi coast and the ever popular Italian lakes.

2011

 

Adorable outfits for little people

What a fabulous photo, well done Manuel Meszarovits for capturing this moment so beautifully!

The simplicity and elegance of these gorgeous flower girls and page boy’s outfits are perfect for the hot summer weather in Italy! I love the organic colours and beautiful cool linen fabrics... I personally would invite lots of little girls and boys just to be able to recreate this photo!! How adorable are these children! Everything from the simple rustic and matching shoes to the crowns of olive branches make them just...perfect!

What to wear to a destination wedding in Italy

Men have it easy when it comes to what to wear to a wedding!

It is January and I have just received the first wedding invitation of 2011 to a friend’s wedding. I was delighted to see they stipulated the dress code (white tie) and it made me think, what will I wear! You would think when it comes to the question of  what to wear to a wedding I would not have to even think about it, but unlike my staple wardrobe of dresses and outfits for work, when I am climbing up ladders and carrying massive vases of flowers, not to mention the running through the streets of Siena in 40 degrees heat, this time I am a guest and I need to find a full length evening gown!

I think because I think it is so important that guests also look fab, I put a lot of pressure on myself. There is a need for extra effort to be put in so that my friend knows it was an honour to have been invited to her very special day and as a mark of respect I will dress up and look glam for the occasion!

It has made me think about the guests who will be receiving their invitations in the post in the near future for a destination wedding in Italy. How to make it easier for them to decide what to wear? What should they take in to consideration? Below is some ideas that will hopefully help your guests get ready for your destination wedding in Italy!

Nothing is more garish at a country wedding than edgy couture. Stick to pastel tea-length or eyelet dresses and peep-toe flats so you don’t get you Louboutin heels stuck in the cobbles in the sleepy Tuscan village!

Designer: Carolina Herrera

The long, print maxi dress was made for hot destination weddings and prints are back for 2011. Since you've spent your savings on a ticket, skip the shoe splurge and slip into metallic gladiator sandals. The 5'4" groomsman will thank you.

Designer: JS Collections Print Chiffon Gown 

This season is full of colour and in the chic cities of Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice, make a statement with a splash of colour!

Designer: Versace

Jemma Kidd and Arthur Wellesley at Prince Nikolaos wedding

Remind your guests if you are having a Catholic Church wedding in Italy, to bring something to cover their shoulders. On a practical note a shawl will also keep the sun off delicate pale skin and as the sun goes down keep the evening chill away!

Wedding in Positano
Walking back down the hill from the town hall of Positano located at the top of the town... resulting in rushing in to shoe shops on the way down to buy flip flops!



Wearing closed shoes in the summer time in Italy is a definite no no! It is just too hot!  With the amount of walking I do on the day of a wedding  a pair of flip flops or elegant sandals to slip on is a must. Let your guests know if the streets are cobbled or if there is any walking involved on the day of your wedding so they are forewarned and can decided on the correct foot wear.

Favourite stilettos or torture device...

Ever leave a bar or a club after a night of dancing and festivities in your favourite stilettos only to find your feet feel as if they've been smashed bruised and as if you have been walking on fire?
Rollasole have created a ballet slipper that roles up for keep in your purse. As soon as you feel the twinge of pain you can slip these babies on and dance the night away.

Flipflops have been for years the perfect nix-the-heels dancing shoe for a summer wedding. But these perfect closed toe, comfy, and oh-so-cute ballerina pumps which roll up to almost nothing seem to be perfect for a destination wedding when space in your luggage is everything! . A perfect little thank you gift for your female guests!

Rollasoles are pretty little ballet shoes that come in a variety of colours to match your outfit. They come in this little black box and have a handy  bag inside for you to slip your stilettos in to. You can buy them online, with prices starting from £6 at www.rollasole.com.