Here are some of our favorite wedding and style links from around the blogosphere:
OK, you know that Chelsea Clinton tied the knot this weekend. But did you know about the nuptials of T.I. and Tiny???
And our friends at Aisledash are hearing that Alicia Keys might be wearing a Vera Wang gown for her upcoming wedding to Swizz Beatz.
Now let's say you didn't get an invite to any of these celebrity weddings or to a wedding you felt you should have been invited to. Yvonne and Yvette have some tips about taking the high road and being left out might be a good thing.
Take a peek inside a great, real-life bridal shower on UrbanFusion.
Still looking for more wedding-ish love songs? Check out this old school Jesse Powell classic on Chocolate Brooms and Bouquets.
And... controversy! Should you impose your dietary restrictions on your wedding guests? Weigh in on Eatocracy.
Have a great weekend!!!!
The AAB Weekly Reader
Budding Talent: From Fatima With Love
This week we were contacted by a lovely and talented young lady named Fatima Spencer who makes beautiful silk flower hair clips and accessories. Her creations are sold online at Flowers From Fatima and we think they would be perfect for many brides, flowergirls and wedding attendants. Take a look at some of our favorites and tell us what you think.
Themed Wedding Invites
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Shopping for wedding invitations can be more difficult than what meets the eye, especially when you trying to stay within the vibe of your wedding and your budget. I decided to check out the invites over at Invitations by David’s Bridal to find some inexpensive, yet classy invite ideas that would suit the various wedding day moods and themes you are all celebrating.
Fall is creeping up and many are looking for a crisp look for your autumn vows. Details of leaves and candy apple colors are perfect for October and November weddings.
Overlooking the water from a dock or lakeside home? Whether your color scheme is warm or cool tones, most invites will come in various color schemes. There were some great choices of seaside ceremony invites for
Great Outdoors
I absolutely love these scenic cards highlighting the wilderness and landscape. They would fit perfectly for a Mid-western, ranch-style wedding or even a mountainside, log-cabin celebration.
Winter Wonderland
Just in time for the holidays, snow and winter white are perfect choices for the cooler months. Especially for those to wed in the north, a snowflake scene will still be fitting for couples walking down the isle after the festive season.
Destination
The dropping temperatures give any bride and groom the perfect excuse to escape to an island getaway to tie the knot. Get tropical with seashells, blue waves and palm trees that will get the guests longing for the set date.
Wordless Wednesday: Love Is Family
Mia & Torin
July 2010
Boston, Massachussetts
Courtesy of Person + Killian Photography
Musical Monday: Nina Simone
This post was inspired by one of our bloggy friends, though we can't remember which one. But somebody posted the Nina Simone song last week - and as soon as we can recall who it is, we're going to give credit where it's due! Happy Monday.
Figure Flattering Dress Tips & Trends
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Wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses can be difficult to search through when looking to compliment your best features. So here are some ideas for all you “soon-to-be” brides and your bridal party!
Full Figure
The best route is to not only highlight your best assets, but to tailor it to your figure. Like this David’s Bridal dress, an A-line, empire waistline gown is sophisticated and stylish, but choose your fabric wisely. Make sure it’s gathered in the right areas to accentuate your curves. If you do go for an empire waistline, make sure the waist isn’t too high underneath your bust.
Pear Shaped
A full, A-line wedding dress is the best silhouette for wider hips and narrow shoulders. Try a gathered, asymmetrical waist that will show off your curves in a glamorous way. A V-neckline will flatter your bust and an ordinate sash to draw attention to you mid-area. It’s best to avoid column dresses; they tend to emphasize your hips.
Small Bust
There is nothing wrong with creating a little illusion. You can use this season’s trends of bows and rosettes to add interest to your bust area with empire waistline. If you want an A-line silhouette, keep the bodice loose and consider slight padding to balance out the full skirt.
Boyish Figure
Showing off you best features, such as your legs and tummy are perfect for brides looking to create curves on their wedding day. Embrace this year’s runway trends and opt for a mini or shorter hemline. Sheath, column and A-line silhouettes will unexpectedly show off your best features while creating the appearance of a fuller figure.
Chic Maids
Is your bridal party a mix of sizes and body types? A great option for your bridal party is to do bridal separates that will flatter each body type. You can keep the same color palette and skirt length, but have each bridesmaid decide whether they would like a strapless, V-Neck, halter, blouson, or asymmetrical cut top.
For the Groom: Tuxedo, Suit or Other?
Fewer and fewer engaged couples are renting tuxedos for their weddings, according to eWedNews.com. Whether because of economics or style preferences or cultural traditions more grooms are standing at the altar in suits or other attire. What do you think? What will your groom wear? Do you prefer the look of a tuxedo or something else? If you were recently married, what did your groom wear?
Photo courtesy of Mitchell's Tuxedos
Bebe & Cece: I Found Love
Just had to share this internet gem with you. Last week we were contacted by a very nice lady who works for Bebe and Cece Winans. She let us know that the duo are still promoting their first album together in 15 years and also that they have an ecard featuring "I Found Love" one of the singles on the album. "I Found Love" is one of those rare, perfect wedding songs. If you heard the song when it came out a few months ago, or if you've never heard it before, take a listen and let us know what you think: http://ifoundloveecard.com/
Look Beautiful in your Wedding Photographs
by Sarah Logan of Aesthetic Science Institute which offers many types of skin care classes.
Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.
Exfoliate and moisturize- Don’t forget that the most important step is good skincare for a clean, smooth base. Soft, supple skin will be the best canvas for any makeup to look great on.
Don’t go changing- Brides shouldn’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate skin during the wedding countdown. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic or skin treatments too close to the date, especially if you haven’t experienced the procedure before.
Build from a solid foundation- Be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. Color correcting concealers, like lilac for any sallow areas, and peach/yellow for under eye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup.
Define eyes and brows- While its important to line and define eyes so they pop in photos, keep in mind that dark shadow will make eyes recede and look smaller. For big bright eyes, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. Also, make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or a solid pigment and brush.
Skip the glitter- Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, keep the sheen only on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, and and blot any oiliness as needed. The older you are, the more important it is to avoid shimmery eye makeup, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines.
Consider your lighting- Do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh in sunlight
Photo courtesy of Anti-Bride
I Waited Until My Man Was Ready: Faith or Farce?
Whew! Nothing like a smidge of controversy to set off the weekend. Every now and then we have to take a little break from the "pretty" to look at issues that seem to strike a chord with readers. The Essence.com article called
Balancing Act: I Waited Until He Was Ready To Wed tells the story of an accomplished woman named Dawn who says she waited (and pleaded) with her man for 17 years to make her his wife - even after they moved in together, "meshed their finances", and had a child. Well, you can see by the comments that many people do not see a happy ending here. The discussion carries over to Twitter and Facebook with more than one woman saying she would tell Dawn's story to her daughter as an example of what NOT to do. Ouch!
But, what do you think? Was Dawn's situation a test of faith or a waste of time? Do you know any similar couples? If so, how are they doing?
New Release: I Still Do
Is anyone else still recovering from the holiday weekend? Regardless, we want to make sure that we keep you up to date on new releases regarding African-American brides and women in general. We recently received an email about a new coffee table book by talented photographer Kea Taylor. It's called, I Still Do - A Celebration of African-American Weddings
Read more about Kea Taylor on her website and check out her book on Amazon.
AAB Weekly Reader
The folks at Invitations by Ajalon have a very interesting outlook on upcoming Fall wedding invitations trends.
Entertaining this weekend? Yvonne&Yvettetiquette has some tips for hosts and guests.
Today season three of Get Married's TV show continues on WE tv with seven new episodes featuring real brides. Don't forget to check out the promo!
Also, learn more about wedding reception icebreakers over at Manolo For the Bride.
Reality show vixen Omarosa Manigault Stallworth is launching a new show this weekend to find love.
The Washington Post has unveiled a an online video series that profiles couples who are preparing to walk down the aisle. Be sure to take a look.
Thinking outside-of-the-box for the groom's cake? Get some ideas from this article on Delish.com The cake in the top left corner is from this feature.
