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Victorians ascribed meaning to all kinds of things – flowers, gifts, dances. The significance of blue and weddings, however, is one that goes much further back in history. In ancient times and across cultures, the color blue has been associated with faithfulness, loyalty, love, and modesty, traits which, during the time, a bride-to-be wished to exude on her wedding day. In fact, before the Victorian era, it was not uncommon for wedding dresses to be blue.

Today, brides embrace the tradition, making it their own by incorporating the classic “good luck” wedding color in some traditional and some unexpected ways!

Images clockwise from upper left: Essie nail polish, garter (available at Bridal Styles Boutique, New York), ring bearer pillow (available at Bridal Styles Boutique, New York), Blue Tulle, Christian Louboutin shoes

For your something blue, visit us at out New York bridal accessory boutique!

]]> http://www.bridalstylesboutique.com/2010/08/a-fresh-take-on-something-blue/feed/ 0 http://www.bridalstylesboutique.com/2010/08/crazy-about-cage-veils/ http://www.bridalstylesboutique.com/2010/08/crazy-about-cage-veils/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:46:30 +0000 Jessica http://www.bridalstylesboutique.com/?p=708

Bridal Styles bride Leba and her handsome groom Dominic

The cage veil is one of our favorite trends in bridal fashion we’ve been seeing in our New York bridal accessory boutique! Inspired by vintage ‘30s and ‘40s fashion, cage veils turn up the volume on glamour while whispering of mystery.

However, don’t let the retro undertones fool you! The cage veil can complement almost any style.

images clockwise from left to right: image 1, image 2, image 3

Paired with a scattering of sparkle and a chic chignon, a cage veil is perfect for a bride-to-be with Grace Kelly’s classic taste. A woman yearning for more drama and vintage appeal can up the ante with a fabulous, dazzling, feathered fascinator adorning an elegantly draped cage veil.

A cage veil is perfect for a woman with shorter hair, too! Her sassy short ‘do couldn’t be more perfect when layered with a bewitching cage veil and spectacular hair accessories.

Dreaming of gliding down the aisle feeling as captivating as a starlet like Jean Harlow or Lauren Bacall and as alluring as a siren?

The cage veil is for you!

Take a cue from the ladies on the red carpet! Try a low, loose chignon topped off with a vintage-inspired comb, sparkling flowers tucked into flowing locks, or a sophisticated updo with a glittering headband.

Next, add some dazzling earrings to your bridal hair comb and veil, and you’ve got a wedding day look that’s aisle-ready!

Amanda Holden, Eva Longoria, Pink, Eva Herzigova, Tyra Banks, Maggie Grace (images via Hello Magazine and My Lifetime) bridal hair comb images via Bridal Styles Boutique, New York City

If you’re searching for just the right vintage-inspired cage veil, dramatic bridal hair band, classic bridal tiara, glittering crystal comb, or stunning bridal jewelry, we at Bridal Styles Boutique invite you to visit our showroom!

With over 450 bridal headpiece samples of every style on display alone, you can just imagine our selection! Not to mention the classic and embroidered bridal veiling, beautiful crystal and cubic zirconium jewelry, and other bridal accessories!   We offer the largest collection of national and international bridal accessory designers, in addition to representing private designers exclusive to Bridal Styles.

We specialize in finding the perfect finish to your wedding day look.  During your visit, you’ll work one on one with a member of our team of stylists. Together, we’ll comb through our vast selection of veils, jewelry, headpieces, garters, ring pillows, and more to find just what you’re looking for.

If you still can’t find the right finishing touches, working with our in-house designers, we can create a custom design to flawlessly suit your style.

Adding just the right amount of red carpet glamour to your bridal style, this eye catching bling goes a long way. To turn the volume up to “starlet,” layer your chandelier earrings with an elegant bridal hair comb or chic cage veil. Feel daring? Add to that a splash of sparkle at your wrist.

Chandelier earrings would also make a fantastic gift to your bridesmaids! They’re the perfect dash of dazzle and will catch light as the girls get down on the dance floor. Plus, who wouldn’t want to wear such a fabulous gift again and again?

Starlets pictured : Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Westfeldt, Mila Kunis, Diane Kruger, Sarah Hyland (source)

Bridal jewelry pictured available in our New York boutique!

When Alina started dating Richie, she knew she had found the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. “It felt so natural to be together, as if we knew each other all our lives. I knew automatically Richie was the man I was going to marry!”

After a fairy tale romance, Alina was whisked to a private yacht in Miami where she was wined, dined, and asked for her hand underneath exploding fireworks. Once they returned home, Alina and Richie began planning their wedding!

Following a brief flirtation with the idea of celebrating their nuptials in Curacao, where Alina’s parents were wed, they decided on Miami.  After all, they had shared so many wonderful memories there, and it would be the perfect place to host their intimate, formal wedding. The hard part choosing the venue!

Then, “…a relative suggested Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. When we saw the historic venue, we were speechless and impressed. We knew our wedding had to be there.“ Before Alina and Richie knew it, their wedding day had arrived, and it was everything they had dreamed.

Alina + Richard from Senderey Video on Vimeo.

“Everything went off without a hitch. Our wedding was the most amazing day of our lives. Bridal Styles designed the most unique, beautiful, and intricate piece for me, one truly fit for a princess. Monica’s Bridal completed my look with a beautiful, custom designed gown.

White roses and orchids flowed throughout our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, completing our romantic white and gold theme. The cocktail hour took place on a historic terrace overlooking a stone barge on Biscayne Bay, and ceremony in front of the beautiful Vizcayan gardens. Our reception was inside the mansion. Its courtyard was filled with tall centerpieces, lit up with magical pink lights, setting a romantic tone. We truly achieved our formal and elegant look!

The food, catered by Tatiana Restaurant in Miami, was amazing. Our guests continue to compliment us on it!  The music was performed by Bremen’s Band, flown in from New York.  They were amazing and our guests did not leave the dance floor.

Our guest list consisted of 65 of our closest friends and family. We wanted an intimate wedding, surrounded by the people who know us best and love us unconditionally, creating an atmosphere of love and family.

Our wedding day was truly amazing. I can’t pick one thing I loved most because everything was perfect! One of my favorite memories is sitting for a moment during the reception, looking around and taking everyone and everything in so I could keep the memory for a lifetime.”

Best wishes, Alina and Richie! Thank you so much for sharing your story and video with us!

It’s always a thrill when a newlywed Bridal Styles Boutique customer sends us a piece of her day. We couldn’t help but smile when we saw this cute picture and matching poem, the very talented groom wrote!

If you have  a funny or  “unusual” wedding picture and would like to be considered being added to our blog,  please email your photo and one or two sentences description to info@BridalStylesBoutique.com

As you search for your wedding gown, the vision of how you will look and feel becomes clearer and clearer until you find the dress!  With this vivid image in mind, you’ll be able to choose bridal veils, jewelry, and bridal haircombs to complement you and your dress perfectly.

Additionally, at Bridal Styles Boutique, we carry designers from all over the world, so special orders for headpieces and veiling can take up to four months!  Don’t forget, you’ll need time to take your new cage veil and vintage-inspired bridal haircomb for hair trials, so the sooner you start shopping, the better.

Of course, if you’re a bride-to-be running a bit behind schedule, don’t fret! We are happy to do everything we can to help, and we do offer rush deliveries.

Image via Style Me Pretty, By Corbin Gurkin Photography

Edward managed our part at the most recent shoot at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville NJ and was on site bright and early at 9am.  A few steps through the door and he was greeted with a flurry of activity.

Nanina’s in Belleville, NJ

The very talented photographers from The Studio Photographers bustled around, setting up inside and out, while flower arrangements and bouquets from Rosie Posies were prepped, gorgeous gowns from Kleinfeld and Exquisite Bride were steamed, and models sat for hair and makeup done by Tim Alan and crew.

Right away, Edward got to work preparing our bridal jewelry, veiling, and hair accessories for the exciting day ahead.

Be sure to pick up the upcoming issue of  Contemporary Bride  magazine, available at bookstores and news stands mid- July!

The Begining

Jessica and Alfredo met 10 years ago through a childhood friend, who thought that they would make a great couple. Within minutes of meeting and smiling at each other, they felt comfortable together. “Our first date was like nothing I experienced before, Alfredo was so confident which made me calm. Our conversation continued through the night, we spoke about all our dreams and wants for the future” recalls Jessica.

The Proposal

They discussed getting engaged, even started searching for the perfect ring. However, Alfredo wanted it to happen naturally.  “On November 12, 2010, Alfredo and I went to Garret Mountain, where we would visit often to sight see. Alfredo decided to stop where there was a beautiful lake and great gazebo. He held my hand and guided me to the gazebo when the sun was setting. Alfredo seemed nervous, without a clue; he got down on one knee and said the most amazing words. I was so surprised and nervous that I closed my eyes and just took a minute; it was a magical moment I’ll never forget.”

The Bride’s Look

“I have been planning my wedding, in my mind, since my first big girl dress, which I wore to my preschool graduation. My mom and I went on the hunt for the perfect dress just for me and I found it at East West Bridals in Secaucus NJ. I chose a Private Label by G gown, a design that made me feel like a bride.

Now, choosing my bridal headpiece is where I wanted to something rare. The day I found Bridal Styles Boutique’s website I knew my search was over. On our adventure to Brooklyn, we got lost and I thought we would never make it. I was happily surprised when I called, and Edward answered and said don’t worry, we will wait for you. My sister, mom and I finally arrived, meeting a delightful man who two hours later became a special friend to our family forever. The headpiece that I found was like fairy tale, when Edward placed it on my head it was an emotional overwhelming feeling that I never experienced before. It was exquisite! My family and I had a moment one dreams of, their faces said it all. We decided to change it a little and make it one of kind by adding more crystals. Edward did just that, it became the center of the wedding night. The day I picked my wedding  jewelry, Elaine guided me through so many wonderful looks; I went with a design that resembled my theme (The Perfect Pear) pear shaped CZ’s. It really completed the look. “

The Wedding

“After Alfredo and I got engaged I started to research ideas. One day passing Carlos Bakery in Hoboken I saw a cake dripping in pears. I got the idea about (The Perfect Pear), which became our signature idea.

The wedding Day was absolutely amazing from getting my hair done to the end of the night. It was truly a special day to have both moms and bridesmaids with me at the Salon.  As soon as I sat down to get my make-up done, my photographer arrived flashing pictures. It was really becoming my special day.

The ceremony and reception was at the Shadowbrook in Shrewbury NJ.  This is truly magical place. It is an elegant Georgian Mansion set on 20 secluded and beautiful manicured acres. The reception was held in the grand style Oak Room, their largest room beautiful floor to ceiling windows overlooking the main garden. The room looked even more beautiful with all of the stunning flowers from Buds and Blossoms florist from Brielle, NJ.

   Alfredo and I wanted our wedding to represent both of our cultures. My aunt made us beautiful table the represented a Persian Aghd that means wedding. For example we used the honey symbol which means sweetness in life. When Alfredo and I shared the honey I felt part of an old tradition that now will be part of us forever.

 The ceremony was personalized to us; we worked with a minister who told us the key word was “Be Creative”. We not only exchanged wedding rings we exchange friendship rings which to us represents our foundation. We share not only love, honesty, and respect but we share our friendship too. We also wrote our own vows, it was more meaningful to be able to create our special words. 

   Our reception was a blast. It had a its own personal touch with a perfect pear wedding cake from Piece O’Cake in Shrewbury NJ, perfect pear place cards and even a pear wishing tree where our guest wrote down wishes and hung it on the tree. My sister did a dedication Persian dance that was absolutely wonderful. She got the party started.

For our first dance, we did was a four piece song that was mixed by our DJ. We wanted to do something different. The songs we choose were, of course, our slow song, a fun club song, a Spanish song and a Persian song. Wow, it came out perfect. Even our bridal party joined us at the end during the Persian dance. It was great feeling! I also did a special slow dance with my mom with all the mothers and daughters. Morello Entertainment did a fabulous job! The entire night was filled with dancing, laughing, and excitement.”

The Most Memorable Moment

“Our special and memorable moment was sitting at our table watching the guests and saying “WOW, is this really happening to us?”. The day was ours, no matter what happen before or after. We knew that everyone there was there because they loved us. “

Words of Advice from the Newlyweds

Jessica- “Allow yourself to enjoy the process, don’t get caught up in the perfection but in the journey of the unknown. Many brides including myself want perfection but you miss out on the pleasure of meeting new people and interesting ideas. “

Alfredo- “Be honest and always remember friendship is number one. “