Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Things I Love: Summer Edition

I have a big work event this afternoon, so please excuse the fluff post. I have three more weddings I want to highlight for The Preppiest Wedding contest and then it will be up to you gals (and guys) to rate your favorite!

But, for today, here are the things I am loving this summer:

Stila Eye Shadow Wash In Kitten
Awesome shade, easy application, wears all day. Love, love this stuff.

Frederick Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo and Condition
Gives you hair lots of ummmphh. And when you hair looks bigger, your face looks thinner.

Kate Spade Sunglasses
Got these babies in black on super sale at TJ Maxx for 20 dollars. They are oh so Jackie O. and will make you look very sophisticated (even with a T-shirt and Jeans).

The Movie Priceless
Saw this last night with a friend and if you love all things french, this movie is for you. Beautiful scenery, awesome clothes and a very cute love story.

Kool Aid Singles in Cherry
When I got back from Chicago, my husband had bought these on his weekly grocery trip. Mixed over ice and some tap water, you'll feel like a kid who is ready for summer.

Nine West Pelli
A friend had these shoes in black patent and they are oh so cute. Perfect with jeans and the wedge means you won't have the stabbing day-after pains of dancing the night away in a 3 inch heel.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Things I Love About Chicago

1. The Journey cover band at Castaways. Nothing like a good frozen drink coupled with a few fist pumps on a Saturday afternoon.

2. The turtle pie at Mia Francescas. Seriously, it is heaven.

3. The behind the bar stripper poles (yes, there are two) at Shenanigans' House of Beer. Also, thank you Shenanigan's for playing O.P.P. as you know how to please a bunch of sorority girls who grew up in the 90s.

4. The fact that the Bloomies across from our hotel had a whole wall of petite sized designer jeans. Are you aware that Citizens actually have a petite bootcut? Short girls of the world, these jeans will make you very happy.

5. Last, but not least, I love that I got to spend lots of time with some of the prettiest, smartest, funniest, wildest girls I know. Nothing can beat a bride-to-be who did not quit dancing even after throwing out her back. And nothing is quite as sexy as a bachelorette who hits the town with two icy hot bandages hidden behind her super cute last night as a single gal attire.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Preppy Dresses to Wear to Summer Weddings

Alongside what to buy for a baby shower, I also get lots of questions about what to wear as a guest to summer weddings. Since most are outside or require at some point being out in the hot sun, I say go with a short dress in a fun color or print and metallic shoes.

Personally, I would always want to be overdressed and not under dressed, so here are a few favorites that you can dress up with accessories for a wedding and dress down for everyday life. Keeping that in mind, think a fun color, a classic shape, a cool fabric and a fun jewelry or shoe.

Pazzi Dress from Calypso (ON SALE for 95.00)
Erin Louise has this dress and I love it, super cute shape, a dressy fabric and it has POCKETS. Love the flame color. Pair with these shoes in brushed gold and these earrings.

Shoshanna Trapeze Halter Dress (ON SALE for 210.00)
Love the print and the universally flattering neckline. Pair it with simple gold shoes like these and some gold hoops. Note to readers: Have these shoes and love them, but they do need some breaking in.

Banana Republic Wrap Dress
This is for petite gals like me or gals who like to cover up a little and not be so exposed on top. I really like the splash color, I would pair it with this bracelet, these earrings and these shoes.

Hope this helps - do you readers have a favorite summer wedding dress? Do tell.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Preppiest Wedding - Number 6

Hello from New York. I have another absolutely beautiful REAL preppy wedding for you today. Take a look at this classic beach inspired affair.




All photos courtsey of Lunaphoto.


Details:


Brides Dress: Elizabeth Filmore (Veil is Vera Wang)


Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew Sophia Dress


Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Carrol & Co. of Beverly Hills/Pasadena and Ties by Brooks Brothers


Wedding Location: La Jolla Country Club in La Jolla, Ca

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Waiting for my Real Life to Begin

One last post before I go. Check out this wedding from Patricia Lyons Photography. Seriously, it brought tears to my eyes.

Someone has to have their first dance to the song that plays during the slideshow, it is called Waiting for my Real Life to Begin by Colin Hay.

Go check it out, see if you don't feel a little mushy inside!

Preppy Baby Shower Gifts

Hey y'all - I am about to hop on a plane to NYC, but I wanted to answer a question I get a lot via e-mail, so here goes. So first comes marriage and then comes baby, right? A lot of newly married gals need some help venturing into the uncharted territory that is a newborn. When we get that baby shower invite, we're sort of unsure what to do. China, we got that. But, car seats, not so much.

Here are some suggestions of things I have done in the past. All you mommies out there, feel free to leave your favorite ideas in the comments section, pretty please.

High End

Low End

Hope this helps, see y'all tomorrow!

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Preppiest Wedding Part 5

Good Morning everyone. Hope that you all had a fantastic weekend, I felt like it was almost impossible to get out of bed this morning.

This week is going to be a busy one for Mrs. Preppy Wedding. I am heading to New York City tomorrow and will be there until Friday and then I am flying to Chicago for a bachelorette party for one of my favorite (and tres, tres preppy) sorority sisters.

In other awesome news, my bff since sixth grade and the uber talented graphic designer Erin Louise (otherwise know as the art director and associate editor of The Preppy Wedding) will be visiting the headquarters of brides.com today to attend the Wedded Bits lunch. She promised she would post for me tomorrow to fill you in on all she learned about new wedding trends and the launch of the brides.com wedding blog.

Last, but not least, I have the fifth entry in the Preppiest Wedding Contest below. The bride was awesome about sharing all the details of this nautical inspired preppy affair, so enjoy my friends ...


Details -

Brides Dress: J.Crew Susanna Dress

Bridesmaids Dress: J.Crew Embossed Strapless Beach Dress in navy blue

Grooms/Groomsmen Attire: Blue seersucker blazers from Jos. A. Banks, white pants, and pink ties from Brooks Brothers

Wedding Location: Maple Hall - Claiborne, Maryland (Eastern Shore)


I also love the table arrangements - they are just loose hydrangeas in painted galvanized buckets tied with a grosgrain ribbon, so easy and so cute.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Father's Day Frosty for a Good Cause

Hi everyone. Just a small public service announcement for my readers.

This weekend, June 14 and 15, Wendy's will donate 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty product, including new Frosty Shakes, at participating restaurants, to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Currently, more than 129,000 U.S. children who are waiting for the love of forever families.

The goal is to raise more than $1.3 million to support the work of the non-profit Foundation and its signature program: Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK). This program is filling a critical need by funding and supporting full-time adoption recruiters at local agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada to match parents with waiting foster care children.

So go, buy a Frosty this weekend and know that you are doing something to help lots of kids out there who need your help. These are kids who are waiting for a family to call their own.

Oh and spread the word, would ya?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Additional Pictures and Details from Preppy Wedding Number 2

The fantastic bride who planned preppy wedding number two sent me a few more pics to share this week. Take a peek, I love her style. Also, here are some details on the wedding:

We got married at the Malliouhana Hotel in Anguilla and all photos are by Thomas VanVeen. Katie Martin of Elegance and Simplicity in Washington DC was our wedding planner and also did all of the floral design.





I have around FIVE more weddings to show you, so this fun contest should last into next week. I want to wait a little longer to reveal the prizes as I may have another prize to add in the next day or so!


Check back tomorrow for more entries.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

I haven't forgotten about you or the contest, I promise. I'm a little swamped right now, but I have lots more weddings to share. Be back tomorrow folks!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Down to Business

First things first, I am EXTENDING the entry deadline for the Preppiest Wedding contest. So, if you were in or had the preppiest wedding out there, send me pictures by Monday. I have a bunch more weddings to post AND I will let you know all about the great prizes on Monday. And readers, remember to check in next week and vote for the Preppiest Wedding.

Second, I got an e-mail from Kristen at I Do Originals and she wanted to extend an awesome discount to preppy wedding readers to her new affiliate site Exclusively Sew. Check out the site, you can get monogrammed dress tags or bouquet ribbons AT 50 PERCENT OFF. That's right, half off. Just enter Preppy50 during check out. The coupon expires 6/30/08, so get to it ok?

Now girls, have a fantastic weekend. Enjoy the sun, have some fun and see you Monday!

Wedding Four

This is such a preppy beach wedding. LOVE it. Some details: brides dress is Nicole Miller, bridesmaids dress is J.Crew's Claudine, sandals are Fondu by Nine West (they have a tiny starfish - the theme of the wedding), groomsmen suits are Banana Republic and their ties are J.Crew. The wedding was a destination affair in Islamorada, Florida.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Wedding Number Three

Love this wedding, totally chic. Some details: It took place in Pennsylvania at a farm estate, Dress by Mon Cheri (a one of a kind design for the bride), the cake is Martha Stewart inspired and so beautiful and the cummerbund and bow-tie for the groom are from Richmond's Peter Blair.

Remember - you have until Friday to submit your preppy wedding pics. I have some great prizes lined up for the winner, so enter today!

Search for the Preppy Wedding - Part Two

Here are bride/groom dress details from our second entry. Seriously LOVE the seersucker and purple for the groom. And the bride's dress is a Dora by Melissa Sweet while the necklace is Vera Wang. Love this look - modern & preppy at the same time.



Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Search for the Preppiest Wedding - Part One

Here is the first entry for the Preppiest Wedding contest. For all you readers out there, we will vote on the contest next week! So keep checking in for entries!

Wedding Number One.

This wedding is pink & green personified. Take a look at this Lilly Pulitzer inspired wedding. Pineapple theme (yep, that's an ice sculpture), grosgrain ribbon seating board (a la Martha), send off confetti by Artistry in Motion.

And here are some more details:
The Bridesmaid Dresses are Lilly Pulitzer in the style "Natalia"
The men's ties are Vineyard Vines Polka Dot
The couple were married at Vale United Methodist Church and the reception was at International Country Club in Chantilly, VA
Videography was Blue Sky Films (I have heard awesome stuff on them)
Motown band called Rolex
And the bride made all the table cards, tents, display, so she is crafty - take a look.



And my two favorite shots. One of the confetti exit and one of the bride getting ready all Lillied up!



I'll be back tomorrow with lots more!

The Preppiest Wedding Contest

OK. My readers are amazing. I am totally inspired by all your weddings. Here's another teaser pic, so beachy beautiful and look at that bouquet. I will officially start posting the entries this afternoon, so check back then. And send me your pictures, please!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Keep Them Coming

Just a teaser picture for you readers - this is a pink & green preppy wedding wonderland! As always, I am so inspired by the vision & creativity of my readers.

Remember - send pictures of your own preppy weddings my way, the contest ends on Friday.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Real Preppy Reader Weddings

Hey everyone! Hope you all had great, restful weekends.

I had a chance to see Sex in the City with a bunch of friends, and it was so good to see those girls together again in NYC. I highly recommend grabbing a few girlfriends and heading to the theatre, you will LOVE the film.

This week, I thought it would be fun to challenge all your preppy brides out there to send me pictures of your real-life favorite preppy weddings. They can be detail pics, dress pics, cake pics, kissin pics, whatever. Just make sure they represent preppy wedding to you. I have a great prize for the girl who sends in the best pic, so get to it!