Steampunk Fashion

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Hi Friends,

What a wonderful weekend! 2 beautiful brides (handsome grooms of course too) 2 gorgeous dresses,and 2 amazing venues that completely outdid themselves for 4 families! In this blog I will talk about Lisa and Seth. Although my pictures do not do it justice, you will be able to see professional images taken my Jay Goldman on my site in a c...

Hi Friends,

What a wonderful weekend! 2 beautiful brides (handsome grooms of course too) 2 gorgeous dresses,and 2 amazing venues that completely outdid themselves for 4 families! In this blog I will talk about Lisa and Seth. Although my pictures do not do it justice, you will be able to see professional images taken my Jay Goldman on my site in a couple of weeks.

This wedding took place at The Montage in Beverly Hills. A lovely hotel where the service could not of been better. The food delicious, and lucky me I was a guest at this wedding!

Lisa and Seth wanted an all white wedding (very popular 2010 request). I love showing the flowers in the plastic containers they arrive in, and then transformed during the day into the centerpieces you see below. I especially love how Mark from Marks Garden used succulents mixed in with the elegance of white roses, tulips and calla lilies.

Lisa wore an all lace Monique Lhuillier gown, and I especially loved the broach she wore in her hair! She told me she will be wearing it as a pin after the wedding.

I always love taking pictures of the chuppah being transformed! The ceremony was white with accents of green, very floral. I didn’t get a picture of the arch at the beginning of the aisle but it was a beautiful introduction to where they would exchange their vows. The aisle treatment, I loved. Mark tried a new combination of the glass pieces down the aisle. And even though we have wrapped callas around the glass container before this looked fresh and it has become a favorite of mine!

The Ballroom was a bit more architectural and modern. A tall and low combination of florals filled the tables and each was unique. Some had succulents, some tall and spilling over the vase above the guest.

The light gobo shined with the couples new monogram.

We brought in 2 handmade pepper trees to fill the sides of the stage.

We ended the evening with a Trail Mix Bar, something we had done before but we changed the items and the bags.

Enjoy the pics!

xox Mindy

There are few things that make me want to flee Manhattan, but the idea of a huge, sprawling home office is *sometimes* one of them, {especially on days like today when I have working projects running in both my studio and my home}.
I love the mix of modern and traditional details of these home offices.. and of course, their bold use of color. Even if you’re not nesting, redesigning, or settling into your first home, you have to appreciate the chic femininity of these spaces. Divine!

Photos from top: Ruthie Sommers ; unknown; House Beautiful ; Country Living ; Traditional Home ; Turquoise Interior Design (last two images).

Hi Friends,

I'm going to start a Weekly Wants... inspiration, deals, and decadence ...

1. House of Harlow Peacock Cuff

2. Pamela Froman Hammered Heart rings

3. Stella McCartney Bead Ball necklace

4. 36 inch pearl necklace (i wear them daily!) around my wrist too! Find at www.wordpress.com5. Kate Spade Bisous Black Trench Coat

6. Kate Spade "Pass the...

Hi Friends,

I’m going to start a Weekly Wants… inspiration, deals, and decadence …

1. House of Harlow Peacock Cuff

2. Pamela Froman Hammered Heart rings

3. Stella McCartney Bead Ball necklace

4. 36 inch pearl necklace (i wear them daily!) around my wrist too! Find at www.wordpress.com 5. Kate Spade Bisous Black Trench Coat

6. Kate Spade “Pass the Shades” Scarf

7. Sauce Contour Print tee

8. Pink Succulents

9. 12 place settings of white Juliska

10. A Bouquet of Ranunculus

xox Mindy

This past weekend, Sierra and Juliet of poppies + posies hosted a fabulous networking event for NYC wedding professionals in Sierra’s Brooklyn loft. I had an absolute blast helping the ladies style fun details, and provided some cute lollipop gardens as sweet treats for their guests.
Even though this wasn’t a wedding event per se, the photos {courtesy of the amazing Jen Huang } are packed with inspiration for showers or smaller soirees… Among my favs: a DIY cupcake bar and “boozy lemonade” from Stuart and Welch catering, and little tea tins from Pearl River Mart, which doubled as catch-alls for everyone’s b-cards {at a shower, I’d love to see them store well wishes or memory cards for the bride}.
For more of Jen’s fab photos, be sure to check out the complete feature on Style Me Pretty .

Photos courtesy Jen Huang Photography .

The Paris fashion shows may have come to a close, but these gorgeous butterfly appliques from the Valentino Fall 2010 RTW collection are emblazoned in my mind! Either softly woven or ornately bejeweled, I adore their delicate perch on the collarbone or hip… How gorgeous would this darling detail appear at a garden-inspired wedding? Fashionista fun fact: The Valentino butterflies are said to be inspired by the early works of Damien Hirst. In his controversial first exhibit, “In and Out of Love,” Hirst filled the Woodstock Street Gallery with hundreds of live tropical butterflies. As visitors admired the art, some butterflies even hatched from the monochrome canvases that hung on the walls.

Love it, hate it? What are your thoughts on this trend? Are you adding delicate details to your wedding dress?

Photos via ImaxTree

If you haven’t already heard, our fellow blogger Vané at Brooklyn Bride is hosting a tres-fab event called Urban Wed from 5 -8 pm on March 23rd + 24th at the new Nest Event Loft {which we love}… The event will showcase the work of an intimate group of the city’s best wedding professionals, and only 150 tickets will be sold each evening, making Urban Wed one of the hottest tickets in town for NYC brides to be.
Lucky for Merci New York readers, Vané has graciously gifted us with a few tickets for each evening’s event! Just leave a comment below {be sure to include your email address} and if you’re one of the first five to comment, you win a pair of tickets. Seriously. It’s that easy.
For more information on Urban Wed, including an updated exhibitor listing, click here or visit our events section.

Photos from Urban Wed exhibitors: Top: Samuelle Couture ; Hatch Creative Studio ; Bottom: both from Paperfinger .

Hi Friends,

So I went to Target the other day to check out the new John Galliano Collection...very cute by the way!

I was on my way to the boys department and stopped in my tracks when I saw these darling thongs. The reason I stopped so quickly is I just saw VERY SIMILAR ones by Manolo Blahnik. Now Mr Blahnik is still my boyfriend but hey these are so affo...

Hi Friends,

So I went to Target the other day to check out the new John Galliano Collection…very cute by the way!

I was on my way to the boys department and stopped in my tracks when I saw these darling thongs. The reason I stopped so quickly is I just saw VERY SIMILAR ones by Manolo Blahnik. Now Mr Blahnik is still my boyfriend but hey these are so affordable , how cute would it be to get for your bridesmaids for a mani/pedi/spa day or to wear on the honeymoon!Neimans $395.00 or Target $22.95?

xox Mindy

This exclusive little Friday surprise comes courtesy of the lovely Aleah and Nick from The Good Life event specialists in Southern California. I had the pleasure of meeting the husband and wife event planing team during their last visit to Manhattan, and have been giddy about sharing their work ever since.
With all the tea-party trends out there, I just adore their classically romantic take on a Modern English Garden. Hoping you enjoy this absolutely gorgeous photoshoot and Aleah’s inspirations below!
Photoshoot design, styling & floral: Nick and Aleah Valley, The Good Life Special Events
Photography: Joseph and Jenny Llanes from Llanes Weddings
Bride’s dress: Bella Bridesmaid in La Jolla; “Chloe” from Queue, $350
Paper goods: Kristy Rice, Momental Designs
Hair and Makeup: Char Sanchez
Location: The Catamaran Hotel & Spa
Linens: Wildflower Linens
What was your vision for this project? We wanted to showcase a whimsical and lovely table setting for a celebration in high tea fashion. This year we are seeing so many different interpretations of receptions – like brunches, cocktail parties, and luncheons – and wanted to show brides and grooms options away from the traditional dinner reception. I am in love with English gardens and afternoon tea so wanted to incorporate a sweet setting with natural garden colors. We utilized the grounds at the Catamaran Hotel in Mission Beach, San Diego, as they are lush and romantic and put a tropical spin on English tea.

What little details did you incorporate to round out the design and make it special? Vintage hankies were found at nearby antique shops and we utilized a few family heirloom pieces (like the Chinese teacups) to really bring home the lovely feeling. We created the lush garden centerpiece and bouquet with bells of Ireland, kale, pale pink roses, pussy willow branches, white ranunculus, and English ivy. The gorgeous paper flower was created by the incredibly talented Kristy Rice with Momental Designs, as were the other stylish paper goods. We wanted to style our bride and groom in a way that you don’t see too often; again showcasing how you can bring in colors or elements that might not be traditional, hence the bride’s pink dress and the groom’s gray tuxedo!

Who would this wedding be fitting for? A tea reception would be so fitting for a fun couple who perhaps wants a more intimate celebration and a more eclectic ambiance. Think about grouping together three round tables to create a different visual effect while still keeping it a little cozy and close knit. Show off family heirlooms like tea cups or linens, and treat guests to an afternoon of visiting, enjoying delicious pastries and tea sandwiches and each others company.

How do you {and Nick} develop a couple’s vision into a reality? After nearly seven years of working with all sorts of clients on a full-time basis, we really get to know each and every couple that we have the honor of working with. We ask our couples what is important to both the bride and the groom; whether it’s flowers, the food, the music, or of course the overall feeling, we want to ensure we;h incorporate both of their desires. A common question we ask is “what do you want your guests to remember most about your wedding?”Some say the food, some say the ceremony, and others say the party aspect.

What design tips or ideas would you give to a bride looking to design her own wedding? Our #1 tip is: be true to you. Don’t be swayed by trends or others’ opinions. Trends come and go and you don’t want to look back on your wedding thinking “why did we do that?” Incorporate sentimental elements or reflections of you. If you have a great hand at calligraphy, why not add your personal touch to the programs or favors? If you love to travel, incorporate food from your favorite foreign country into your cocktail hour or as a late-night menu. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to remain true to your vision and have fun during the planning process!

To learn more about Aleah and Nick from The Good Life , visit their Web site .

Photos courtesy Llanes Weddings .

Okay ladies, fair warning: you’ll want to keep close to your computer this weekend. Big things are on the horizon at Gilt Groupe, and Merci New York is very excited to share a little sneak peek with you…
Beginning tomorrow, Gilt Groupe , in collaboration with Martha Stewart Weddings, will be hosting their first ever wedding-themed sale… For one weekend only, they’ll be bringing you everything you need, want and can’t imagine walking down the aisle without, from beribboned silk heels to the perfect topaz necklace. And in true Gilt-fashion, the flutter of show-stopping bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses and wedding gifts will focus solely on covet-worthy brands, such as Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang Lavender Label, Thread Made to Order, Temperley London and Judith Leiber {to name a few}.
Here’s a little peek at what’s to come, compliments of our friends at Gilt Groupe.
left: Carolina Herrera Embroidered brocade gown: Original Retail: $4900, Gilt: $1599
right: Carolina Herrera Two Piece Strapless gown: Original Retail: $5790, Gilt: $1999
left: Vera Wang Lavender Label Bias Satin Draped Neckline Gown: Original Retail: $656, Gilt: $197
right: Amsale Taffeta Strapless Bridesmaid dress: Original Retail: $290, Gilt: $145
left:Temperley London Dress With Lace Bodice: Original Retail: $1595, Gilt: $499
right: Thread Made to Order Matte Silk One Shoulder Fuscia Bridesmaid Dress: Original Retail: $440, Gilt: $330

As part of Gilt’s Wedding Weekend, members will also have access to sharp suits for the groom, get-pretty prep packages for the bridal party, dreamily decadent lingerie, and stuff-of-dreams honeymoon packages courtesy of Jetsetter . And if your head’s spinning with the task at hand, chin up — Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, has culled her personal picks to help aide in the planning process.

So what’s not to love? If you’re not already a member of Gilt Groupe {really, now?}, be sure to join here … and make sure to push back all those pesky Friday meetings. You’ll want to be online for this one.

Sneak peek images courtesy of Gilt Groupe .

Wow- We sure had a wonderful response to our Chic Clutch Hunt Giveaway with Amanda Pearl! And though I’d love to give everyone a prize for spreading the word, in the end we could only have one winner…
Hazel at “I Do” Bugdet Weddings is our lucky girl!
She was selected at random and will be the recipient of a gorgeous Le Pouf clutch for her wedding day! Congratulations!
Everyone else: stay tuned! Our next giveaway will be live on Merci New York next week, and we promise it’s just as fashionably fabulous!

For today’s chic spotlight series, I’m very excited to share our recent chat with the lovely Minhee, one half of the husband and wife team that is paper + cup . Minhee and Truman are among my favorite Manhattan stationers. Not only are they amazingly creative with perfectly gorgeous and balanced work, but their dream of creating a husband and wife business is wonderfully inspiring. Hope you enjoy!

When did you decide to create paper+cup?
When I just couldn’t take my day job anymore! I was in editorial design and always found myself making things on the side. It was back in 2003.

{click image to enlarge}

What was your initial vision?
Tru and I loved anything to do with paper and we love a great cup of coffee. So hence the name, paper+cup. Our vision didn’t start off by wanting to create a stationery company. We just wanted to make things we like and stationery seemed the most tangible medium at the time. There weren’t that many stationery companies around either and letterpress was something very new. I remember Snow & Graham and Eggpress were the first ones in the market. We noticed that there was a void in some fresh modern stationery. We fell in love with letterpress and wanted to marry a little vintage + modern together.

What do you like most about your job?
I love being able to set my own hours – although I work much more now. I don’t think my brain ever checks out- it’s non-stop work. Truman used to get so mad when I slept with my blackberry right next to me. I literally looked at it right before I went to bed and the first thing I did when I woke up. It was getting pretty bad. Now what I love most is that I get to stay home with our newborn.

{click image to enlarge}

What do you love about working with brides?
I love hearing about their stories on how they met and about their vision for their big day. It’s such an intimate experience in a way to be part of something so special.

What was your favorite wedding design project?
One of my favorite design projects was a newspaper themed invite suite . The save the date had a personal ad torn out that described the couples along with a letter announcing their engagement. We made a mini newspaper for the invite, printed it on actual newsprint paper. The invite suite was then placed inside a mini file folder which then got mailed in a printed manila envelope.

{click image to enlarge}

Where do you draw everyday inspiration from?
I have boxes full of things I’ve saved over the years, when I need some inspiration I usually browser through them. On the weekends we like to visit the flea markets and just roam around the city. We like to walk slow and just talk and think out loud. It’s one of our best brainstorming sessions. One of our favorite thing to do is to sit outside of Balthazar bakery with some madelines and donuts and people watch. It has nothing to do with design but in the midst of just relaxing, we often get lots of things going.

{click image to enlarge}

Why will brides love you?
We love what we do and we love to collaborate with our clients. When we get to work on projects, we want to bring out the client’s style and story but of course sprinkle it with a touch of p+c.

Where did your company begin? Where are products sold?
We started in 2003, in our apartments. I lived in Chinatown and Tru in the Lower East Side. We are now located in Manhattan on 31st and Lexington. Our wholesale fulfillment is done in California. Our products can be found throughout the US and in some UK stores like paperchase.

Want more paper + cup? Minhee will be showcasing her work at the upcoming Urban Wed event March 23-24. Visit our events section for more details.

Photos courtesy paper + cup .

I love the Oscars, or more notably, the red carpet. To me, it’s all about the translation of style. How does an editorially striking runway look evolve to become Oscar appropriate? What works, what gets lost in translation… and further, how might a star’s stride down the red carpet inspire a bride’s walk down the aisle?
I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite runway to red carpet looks from last night. In my opinion, these ladies just rocked the red carpet, oozing style that could easily translate to your wedding day. Hoping you feel inspired! A Jenny Packham Spring 2010 gown worn by Miley Cyrus. Miley removed the shoulder adornment and a touch of the voluminous petticoat; making a bridal-worthy dress a bit more evening appropriate.
I adore how Sarah Jessica Parker softened the feel of this couture Chanel gown by adding simple silver bracelets to balance the metallic floral applique on the bustline. While the runway look was pure editorial, SJP’s version keeps the attention on the gown’s gorgeous draping. A look that needed no revision. Rachel McAdams was absolutely ethereal in this organza and mousseline creation by Elie Saab . The glamorous earrings kept her look young as she floated down the red carpet.
Brides who are drawn to dramatically full gowns should take note of Zoe Saldana’s red carpet style … Zoe’s softly upswept hair kept her streamlined and lean, whereas a down-do would have added too much volume to her tiny frame and distract from her dress. Here, she’s perfectly polished in a gown from the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2010 collection . Diane Kruger seemed to have modified her Fall 2009 Chanel gown by removing a bit of ruffle from the center of the skirt. Again, a great tip for brides. A good seamstress can modify {almost} every part of a gown. You’re paying for the fittings – don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Were you inspired by a star I didn’t mention? Who were your red carpet favorites?

Photo credits: Runway images here and Oscar images here and here .

Hi Friends,

Loving these cake stands from www.raisethecake.com.

This is a wonderful way to customize your cake, with your wedding colors even fabric that you may have used for your linens..your cake will definitely stand out amongst the rest...I use to dread figuring out how to display cupcakes, they always look too flat when they just sit on plates... ho...

Hi Friends,

Loving these cake stands from www.raisethecake.com .

This is a wonderful way to customize your cake, with your wedding colors even fabric that you may have used for your linens..your cake will definitely stand out amongst the rest…I use to dread figuring out how to display cupcakes, they always look too flat when they just sit on plates… how cute is the picture below!

Sometimes you just want a small cake just to cut but, you still want it to stand out…these cake stands are a perfect way to make the guests walk over and look at your beautiful cake and the stand of course! Give Kathy Jo a call she is very talented!

Enjoy the pics

xox Mindy

I’m currently loving these chic photos shot by Rumi {and Colin} at Fashion Toast during NYFW. Granted my mind was more focused on fashion-styling than weddings when I pulled them, but I am just obsessed with their rough city edge.
I’d love to style an engagement shoot with this vibe in mind. Any takers? We’ll just hail a particularly dirty cab and take it from there…
Be sure to check out the rest of Rumi’s NYC photo diary here.

Images via Fashion Toast .

I’ve always loved Jonathan Adler’s cheeky-cool style, but these pillows take the cake. They are filled with sixties-sass and irony, and would make such a cool gift for a jet-set kind of couple that doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
$98 each. Available here .

P.S.- Don’t forget! Merci New York’s Chic Clutch Hunt winner will be chosen on Monday. If you haven’t entered, be sure to check it out here .

There are so many beautiful venues right outside the city, it’s no wonder many couples choose to wed near their suburban hometowns. The greenery and architecture are so romantically stunning, and being a stone’s throw from Manhattan still allows easy travel for city guests… Shelby and John’s wedding is a perfect example of a classically elegant celebration. It took place at the The Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, {a township in Essex County, New Jersey}, and is truly a feast for the ideas. Enjoy!
Wedding Planner: Lindsey Martin from 6 Degrees of Celebration
Venue: The Pleasantdale Chateau
Band: Savoy Stompers
Flowers: Crest Florist
Groom’s Cake: Pink Cake Box
Hair and Make-up: Vanity and Mascara
Dress: Oscar de la Renta
Shoes: Christian Louboutin {dyed blue}
Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston

From the bride: John and I met through my sister. She is a broker on Wall Street and he is a trader. We randomly sat next to each other at a Giants game {hence the reason the grooms cake was a giants helmet with tiers of blue, white and red cupcakes!}, and haven’t left each others side since. We truly had a fairytale wedding… There were so many personal touches that made the day extra special.
My father had passed away five years ago, so we did many things to honor him. When I was growing up, he always planted sunflowers outside my bedroom window, so I filled the ceremony space with sunflowers. Then my sister, who was the matron of honor, gave a “speech” in his honor half way down the aisle. When she was done, trumpeters played the “call to post” {the song before every horse race}. My father loved horse racing, so it was a touching tribute to him. Everyone was shocked and many tears were shed.
The Pleasantdale Chateau had amazing food – our cocktail hour was insane! We had a periogi station in honor of my Polish heritage and a Tuscany display and pasta station for John’s Italian roots. We had several specialty drinks named after the women in my family, but couldn’t leave out my brother, so we also had a station called “Richies Pigroast.” It was a nod to a fun roast he hosts annually for family and friends.
Instead of giving gifts, we donated to juvenile diabetes in honor of my cousin. Our menu cards read, “In the hope that everyone may be able to experience all of life’s sweetness, Shelby and John have made a gift to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.”
Our after party took place in a separate wing of the chateau. Guests had a great time enjoying a photo booth, as well as hand rolled cigars, mini cheeseburgers, french fries, cookies, pizza rolls and lots of other finger foods.

About the photographer: Danny Weiss , an ex-actor, stumbled into a photography class thanks to a birthday gift from his wife. To Danny, photography didn’t feel too far off from acting- he still continues to tell stories in a truthful, authentic and original way. He feels super lucky to be doing what he does… To learn more about Danny, please visit his Web site .

Photos courtesy Danny Weiss

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Steampunk Fashion

The Wedding of Lisa and Seth

The Wedding of Lisa and Seth

Perfect Home Offices | Merci Nest

Perfect Home Offices | Merci Nest

Mindy’s Weekly Wants

Mindy’s Weekly Wants

poppies + posies saturday soiree

poppies + posies saturday soiree

Valentino Wedding Inspiration: Fall 2010 RTW

Valentino Wedding Inspiration: Fall 2010 RTW

Urban Wed Event ticket giveaway

Urban Wed Event ticket giveaway

“Spring” into a Great Deal at Target!

“Spring” into a Great Deal at Target!

Good Life Events | High Tea in the Modern English Garden

Good Life Events | High Tea in the Modern English Garden

Gilt Groupe Wedding Weekend

Gilt Groupe Wedding Weekend

The Chic Clutch Hunt Giveaway Winner is…

The Chic Clutch Hunt Giveaway Winner is…

Chic Vendor Spotlight: paper+cup

Chic Vendor Spotlight: paper+cup

Red Carpet Wedding Dress Inspiration

Red Carpet Wedding Dress Inspiration

Raise The Cake!

Raise The Cake!

Fashion Toast | Engagement Shoot Inspiration

Fashion Toast | Engagement Shoot Inspiration

Jet Set with Jonathan Adler | Merci Nest

Jet Set with Jonathan Adler | Merci Nest

Real New Jersey Wedding | Shelby + John

Real New Jersey Wedding | Shelby + John