Project Wedding Blog

Over the weekend one of my friends gave another this alphabet pendant from Tiffany for her 40th birthday. As she excitedly unwrapped the little blue box and happily took out this necklace (and put it on immediately!), I thought – one can never go wrong with a classic!  What bridesmaid wouldn’t love this timeless gift?  At $100, it’s a no brainer for an overwhelmed bride-in-planning! 

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Just back from the Alfred Angelo show, where the spring line is fresh, colorful and inspired by “Jazz on a Summer’s Day,” the documentary from the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Gone are the days of dismal bridesmaid dresses! The eco-friendly bridesmaid dress collection, Purely Alfred Angelo, lit up the runway with hues like island pink, capri blue, orange sunset and even plaid! The breathtaking bridal gowns mixed high drama with a light, airy vibe. Here are a few of my favorites - fresh off the runway.

Images courtesy: Patrick Ryan

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We just met with the fabulous team behind Moonlight Bridal in New York, where Stephanie Chin and her sister, Valerie, unveiled some of their brand new bridal looks for Spring 2010. Here’s a sneak peek at my absolute favorite gown — and two precious bridesmaid dresses – which put an entirely new stylish spin on that area of bridal wear. Their dresses are stunning, wearable and the best thing — affordable!

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Last week Project Wedding had the rare opportunity to sit down and chat one-on-one with Jean-Paul Hamm, CEO and President of Alyce Designs, to discuss the 40 year-old company’s launch of Claudine by Alyce Designs and 312 Bridesmaids.  This flourishing, family-run dress company was founded by Jean-Paul and his sister and designer,  Alyce Hamm.  Fortunately, the “gene” for exquisite taste and artistic talent was inherited by her nieces, Claudine Hamm and Nathalie Lambert, who now head the design team that has created these two gorgeous collections.   We wanted to know the secret to their success and what this new generation of bridalwear means for the bride in search of the perfect dress for herself and her attendants.

312 Bridesmaids: Style 1290

PW: What was the inspiration behind the new collections?

JPH: For Claudine by Alyce Designs, our design team was most inspired by European elegance, incorporating design nuances that reflect fashion trends from Spain, London, and Paris.  The 312 Bridesmaids collection is a blend of traditional fabrics and contemporary lines and embellishments.

312 Bridesmaids: Style 1285

PW: Tell us more about your favorite embellishments for this season.  What is new for 2010 and where did you take a more classic approach?

JPH:  For 2010, we’ve introduced pale color accents in the Claudine bridal collection.  We also offer options to coordinate bridal accent colors with 312 Bridesmaids fabric colors.  For bridesmaids, we’re working with two-tone color options, knee-length hemlines, and ruched fabrics.  A classic approach is taken in our selection of quality fabrics and our never-compromised attention to construction.

Claudine for Alyce Designs: Style 7252

PW: What is the secret to Alyce Design’s success and excellent reputation in the fashion world?

JPH: Over the years we were never afraid to try new things. Each season we create a diverse and contemporary collection by first, testing out a variety of styles, and then developing a perfect pattern for the dresses that pass the test.  We’ve combined this cutting edge approach with time- tested reliability and quality; this combination is what has put Alyce Designs on the map.

Claudine for Alyce Designs: Style 7221

Tags: 312 Bridesmaids, Alyce Designs, Claudine by Alyce Designs.

The inspire company never ceases to amaze me! These adorable tins make the sweetest gift boxes ever. I think the idea of finding a favorite photo of you and one of your BFFs and putting together a little goodie tin is so touching. I know it might bring a tear to my eye if I received one (hint, hint)!

Images Courtesy: inspire company

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If you are a fan of color and vintage patterns — you must check out Orla Kiely’s fabulous designs, handbags, clothes, etc, etc! I think these various bags are great options for unique bridesmaids or even mother-of-the bride gift ideas! The best part - all of these are right around $100!

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I am always on the lookout for unique bridesmaids gift ideas, and I just love these Marc by Marc Jacobs Star Totes! At $63, they are a steal! You could even fill them with goodies for the girls if you like!

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This weekend I threw a wine tasting and french-themed bridal shower for my childhood best friend, with about 15 guests in attendance. Here are five secrets to the success of this bridal shower:

1) Have at least two good entree options. We got a casserole and a large savory tart and everybody raved!

2) Offer healthy food options like a salad and fruit. Many women are very health or waistline-conscious!

3) Serve plenty of wine or alcohol. Nothing gets conversation flowing like a little bit of liquid courage.

4) If you’re going to play a bridal shower game, the newlywed game is always a big hit!

5) Be prepared for your guests to stay 6-7 hours! That’s the advantage of having a bridal shower at home… because you definitely can’t stay at a restaurant for very long before they kick you out!

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Straight out of NYC, Chloe & Reese is the perfect fashion match for you glamour gals - and maybe your beautiful bridesmaids! How they are different: They offer endless fabric and color options amongst their array of fabulous, fitted tops, skirts and dresses. If you love the fit of a particular skirt, you can get it in about 30 different color and fabric options. Here are a few we really heart - we could see these gliding down the aisle on any of your BFF’s!

Tags: Chloe & Reese.

My childhood friend Cheryl is getting married later this month and I recently attended her bridal shower, which was filled with good food, lots of gifts, and some really fun bridal shower games. One of my favorite games was the celebrity couples, which is super simple. I put together a step by step below for anyone who is thinking about having this game at a bridal shower:

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1. Pass out pieces of paper and pencils to your guest. If you have a theme color or pattern, a really cute idea would be have the paper and pencils in your theme color. If you’re the ultimate hostess you could even have the pencils personalized with the bride’s name!

2. Ask your guests to write down as many famous couples as they can in 3 minutes, either from contemporary times, history, or famous couples from literature. Sometimes it helps to cite examples like Michelle and Barack Obama, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or Bill and Hillary Clinton.

3. Once three minutes are up, find out who has the most number of couples. Ask that person to read her selections aloud to the rest of the bridal shower guests. If all sounds good, she wins a prize!

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