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Hi Friends! I love showers! Especially this one...Lots of cute details. The private polo room at the Beverly Hills Hotel had artwork on the walls that the client didn't like. We were able to blow up some pictures from their engagement shoot the exact size to fit in frame. The trick was to make sure we didn't damage the picture. James from our office did a gr...

Hi Friends! I love showers! Especially this one…Lots of cute details. The private polo room at the Beverly Hills Hotel had artwork on the walls that the client didn’t like. We were able to blow up some pictures from their engagement shoot the exact size to fit in frame. The trick was to make sure we didn’t damage the picture. James from our office did a great job attaching and tying from the frame instead of adhering to the picture. We took the same engagement pictures and Kristen in our office made these darling candy bar wrappers, we placed then around dark chocolate bars …everyone loved them! We used a floral cloth to go down the one long table. The guests received a darling vintage inspired shower cap ( www.retrorevival.biz ) filled with a lovely candle and Carved Solutions made some custom soap with the word “Love” engraved into it. SO cute! We took inspiration from Martha Stewart Weddings and borrowed their ring pop idea for our dessert table. We added some furniture groupings inside and out to fill the space and the one group inside became the area for Amy to open her gifts! Can’t wait for the wedding!!!! xox Mindy

Honestly, there isn't really a wrong way to do a wedding ceremony program. The content will depend on the type of ceremony you're having, of course, but generally, it's a good idea to include the following:

Full names of bride and groom

Wedding date, city and state

Name of officiant

Timeline or basic order of ceremony so your guests may follow along

Members of the wedding party, and their relationship to the bride/groom (if preferred)

A brief "thank you" to both parents and to guests for attending

Honoring of any deceased loved ones (in a poem or prayer, for instance)

Map and directions to the cocktail hour or reception after the ceremony

When you lay out the order of ceremony, you'll want to include any songs, prayers and readings planned, and who will be leading them. You can choose to include the words to the verses and readings if you think that they're particularly relevant and you have the extra space on the program itself. Overall, it's important to make your guests feel like they're a part of the ceremony. Give them whatever information that you think is necessary in order for them to follow along and not get lost. Explain traditions, rituals and anything else that could be foreign to them.

Now comes the fun part! Some of the best ceremony programs I've seen are simple and practical. They tell you what's happening and when, and cut out all of the extra fluff that isn't necessary. One of my favorites to this day is actually pictured below, and it starts out something like this:

7.15.11 - Los Angeles, California
Sarah & Dale are getting married today! (You've probably figured that out by now) Here's how it's going to go:
You will hear songs chosen by Sarah and Dale. Okay, probably more by Sarah, but nonetheless, it's good music.
First will come our officiant, the lovely James Earl Jones (you can call him Jim)

Next, Dale will walk his mom, Kathy, and Sarah's mom, Linda, to their seats. Dale's dad, Dale, will follow immediately after the moms are seated.

Right around when the next song starts, you'll see the charming wedding party...

Susie Jones
Casey Mann
Lindsay Apple
Chris Mason
Joseph Tie
Barney Jetson

...You get the picture. Keeping it light and easy is a great idea, but it also depends on the type of ceremony you're having. This particular program was for a beach wedding in Mexico, so it was pretty fitting for the occasion.

Wedding Ceremony Programs

Click the image to view its source.

Some other creative ideas include:

Using fans as ceremony programs is extremely popular right now for outdoor weddings. With these types of programs, less is better, so limit your content to the basics - wedding date, location, names and a "Thank you!"

Want to make your ceremony programs a DIY project? A ceremony program booklet tied together with a cute colored ribbon is an easy choice!

Accordian-style folded programs are a bit easier than a booklet with seperate pages, and still gives you the space to include all of the information that you need to, on the front and back pages.

If you want to skip printing individual programs, you can also create a display near the entrance to your ceremony that offers guests a rundown of the ceremony. This works well if you don't have a lot of readings and prayers for guests to follow in your ceremony. Use chalkboards, glass windows, mirrors...I even found one that had the ceremony info printed onto handkerchiefs, which were pinned on a clothes line! Cute, right?

Make it fun! If you've been to more than a few weddings, you know that more often than not, the ceremony doesn't start on time and you end up waiting around a bit. Include a fun little crossword puzzle or wordsearch with facts about you and your husband on the back of your ceremony program for your guests to work on while they wait. Just remember to supply pencils!

Orcas Island Wedding - Abbie and Francis. This beautiful Orcas Island wedding took place outdoors at the Orcas Island hotel against the backdrop of the San Juan Islands. You don't need much in the way of decorations when nature this magnificent is your reception hall.

san juan island wedding

Aren't the wild flowers in this bouquet beautiful?

orcas island photo

orcas island hotel

The Orcas Island Hotel added a quaint touch complete with my favorite, vintage couches .

orcas island reception

The ceremony was especally touching as the couple wrote their own vows.

orcas island love

The wedding colors were lavender and yellow. And the bridesmaid dresses are from Alfred Angelo .

orcas island wedding getting married

Pictures are by Alexander Chamas (on Twitter @amchamas) and you can see more of this lovely Orcas island marriage on his blog. Congratulations Abbie and Francis on a beautiful wedding and day.

I love the idea of an outdoor reception and Orcas Island was a great choice. Anyone else fall in love with Orcas Island?

Harry Potter inspired Wedding Themes. Having a unified wedding theme can go a long way in helping to create a cohesive look and feel to your day. You may not know this about me but I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. And since Deathly Hallows Part II was awesome! I decided to see if anyone ever thought of using Harry Potter as inspiration for their wedding day.

I know what you are thinking. Really? Harry Potter? Yes Harry Potter. Even thought I love Harry Potter I wasn't sure about a Harry Potter Wedding Theme. But after seeing some of these pictures I can see why some people did.

Ok I love this. I love that each of the bridesmaid is holding one of the Harry Potter books. And how fun are the pink and purple baubles instead of flower bouquets? And the black, pink, and purple wedding colors also very Harry Potter.

Ok not gonna lie it would be really cool to use these instead of table numbers. Maybe a litttle geeky but really cool. If you wanna see more of this Harry Potter wedding check out the post by Geoff White. The groom actually looks a little Harry Potter and there is a sorting hat.

This picture is wow. Apparently this couple actually got Harry potter wands as a gift and this was the inspiration for the picture below. It is super creative and testimony to the wonders of photoshop.

If you wanna see more themed pictures check out my post movie inspired wedding pictures .

Anyone else as crazy about Harry Potter? Fess Up. I know you're out there. :)

sources top to bottom, ( Capitol Romance , Geoff White , Michelle Chiu )

Hi friends I wanted to share a beautiful wedding we planned at the Villa d' Este in Lake Como. Needless to say the beauty of this location speaks for itself. We enhanced the beauty and hopefully made amazing memories for the bride and groom! The staff at the hotel Villa d' Este could not of been more helpful and I promise we will have more professional pictu...

Hi friends I wanted to share a beautiful wedding we planned at the Villa d’ Este in Lake Como. Needless to say the beauty of this location speaks for itself. We enhanced the beauty and hopefully made amazing memories for the bride and groom! The staff at the hotel Villa d’ Este could not of been more helpful and I promise we will have more professional pictures in my wedding section soon :). The ceremony took place in the mosaico garden…probably one of the most gorgeous gardens in the world!
It was then followed by a beautiful sit down dinner and followed by an afterparty. The next morning a lovely brunch in the Grill at the hotel. This is the second wedding we have planned for this amazing family 2 daughters now just their son to go…haha no worries we will wait :) Ciao xox Mindy

1. Giuseppe Zanotti ; 2. Manolo Blahnik ; 3. Manolo Blahnik ; 4. Manolo Blahnik ; 5. Miu Miu ; 6. Christian Louboutin .

Oh yes ladies, I said those three magic words! The lovely Barney’s New York is having a mega. mega. shoe. sale. And while I may have been a bit of a rationalizing shopper before, well watch out. I could write a novel explaining why all of you must bring your bridal booties over to Barney’s, STAT, to explore all the options available for your little tootsies.
I mean, we’re talking bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception… With prices like these, why not have an after party shoe? {Hey, just saying…}
This could certainly get dangerous, even for those of us already married. Happy shopping, lovelies!
xx,

As you may remember from this post , I’ve been a big fan of Madame Mathilde’s python clutches {the darling antique brooches are to die for}… But it wasn’t until I shared a lovely little lunch with Jen Niles, Madame Mathilde’s owner and designer, that I learned how expansive {and chic!} her new jewelry collection really is!
Jen has a fabulous eye for accessorizing her pieces to match this summer’s most popular trends, so I asked her to jump on board and share her tips with Merci’s readers… Below, Jen shows us how to spruce up your summer wardrobe with some of the season’s hottest trends {and her fabulous pieces}! Hope you enjoy!

Neutrals + Neons
A classic way to embrace the neon trend is not to wear head to toe, but instead use bright neons as an unexpected accent to a sexy neutral ensemble. Madame Mathilde’s bright colored Bracelets and Necklaces from the Bali collection go great with this long sleeve nude dress. For a more casual look, pair these pieces with a nude short and silk cami.
The Row, Rexton wool blend dress, $1,125, net-a-porter.com; Madame Mathilde, Bright Pink Snakeskin Choker, $165, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde Lime, Yellow, and Bright Pink Snakeskin Rhinestone Bead Bracelets, $55 Each, email sales@madamemathilde.com

Nautical + Stripes
Stripes in a nautical inspired navy and white are an effortless chic look during the summer. Pair this J.Crew top with Madame Mathilde’s Indigo Snakeskin Choker or add your own nautical inspired stripes to any outfit by layering up alternating indigo and ivory snakeskin bracelets. Complete the look with MMs Kensington Necklace to elevate your outfit from beach bum to night out.
J.Crew, Striped cotton and Modal-blend tank, $35, net-a-porter.com; Madame Mathilde, Indigo Snakeskin Rhinestone Choker, $165, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde, Indigo and Ivory Snakeskin Bracelets, $55-70 each, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde, Silver Kensington Necklace, $295, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde, Small Navy Python Clutch with Vintage Brooch, $395, email sales@madamemathilde.com

Orange + Color Blocking
A terrific opportunity to be adventurous with color this summer is embracing the color blocking trend. Orange is a terrific color to focus on as it compliments so many tones. These orange Madame Mathilde Earrings and bracelet look great with both the cool blue cami and this warm yellow belted dress both from Topshop. Orange is also is a great buy now color for Summer that will carry through into your fall wardrobe.
Topshop, Teal Tiered Colour Block Cami, $50, topshop.com; Madame Mathilde, Large Orange Rhinestone Drop Earrings, $58, email sales@madamemathilde.com;Topshop Tall Cream Colour Block Belted Pleated Dress, $110, topshop.com; Madame Mathilde Orange Stacy Bracelet, $285, email sales@madamemathilde.com

Boho Chic + Maxi’s
Bring out your inner hippie this summer with long flowy maxi dresses, long beads and tassel earrings. Embrace color when choosing jewelry and don’t be afraid to layer up.
Topshop, Multi Feather Print One Shoulder Maxi Dress, $140, topshop.com; Madame Mathilde Gold Smoky Tassel Earrings, $48, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde, Bright Red Bird necklace, $245, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde Yellow Snakeskin Rhinestone Bead Bracelet, $55 Each, email sales@madamemathilde.com

Snakeskin + Metallic
Snakeskin is a huge trend this season and what better way to glam it up than with shine and sparkle. These natural snakeskin bracelets feature sterling plated rondelles throughout that go great with this patterned sequined dress from Tibi featured at half off on the Outnet. Layer on Madame Mathilde’s Ms Silver Leopold Necklace to complete the look. If you are looking to tone it down for a more casual classic look pair these pieces with white jeans and a grey silk cami or tee.
Madame Mathilde Natural Snakeskin Sterling Rondelle Bracelet, $70 Each, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde Large Natural Python Clutch with Rhinestone Brooch, $450, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Madame Mathilde Silver Leopold Necklace $395, email sales@madamemathilde.com; Tibi Nia sequin-embellished silk dress, $239, outnet.com

Hi Friends,

The big wedding day in Cabo was met with beautiful weather, calm ocean waters and probably one of the most mellow brides (a lovely trend I'm seeing a lot of lately!)

The wedding party was made up of primarily a few friends must mostly all family members. I loved the custom made shirts the grooms wore! The inroduction of the orange was p...

Hi Friends,

The big wedding day in Cabo was met with beautiful weather, calm ocean waters and probably one of the most mellow brides (a lovely trend I’m seeing a lot of lately!)

The wedding party was made up of primarily a few friends must mostly all family members. I loved the custom made shirts the grooms wore! The inroduction of the orange was perfect and the women all were able to pick a tropical inspired out of their own. I happen to love the one I captured

Besides the Brides dress (OMG Zuhair Murad!) I snapped a pic of her shoes through the dress look carefully “swoon”

The Ceremony was mostly about the blue ocean accented with a white organza draped cabana for the vows and floral and water filled glass spheres down the aisle. Parasols and fans were provided for the guests.

The path was lined with candles as the guests were invited to cocktails… in one of the most beautiful bars and a favorite of mine!

Followed by transforming the hotels Aqua Restaurant into an amazing location for the dinner reception and wonderful music!

I know it’s going to be a great evening if someone starts a conga line! I always look forward to the sun going down and the lighting coming ALIVE! And you know how I feel about Fireworks ….

After the dinner guests were invited to an after-party with a moroccan flare! Cigar Rollers, Mexican Coffee, and even Michael Jackson showed up to entertain…yes he did!

Though we haven’t mused much of it on Merci, we’ve been more than just fireworks watching this weekend…
For the last three days, Paris has been ablaze with their Fall/Winter couture shows, showcasing the latest collections from the likes of Chanel , Giorgio Armani Prive and Stephane Rolland , to name a few.
Though I’m certainly not privy to shell out the cost of a small car for a custom frock, watching the couture shows provides an acute glimpse of some of the trends that may trickle into accessibility in the near future… And as a bridal stylist , that’s exactly why I love to watch Elie Saab’s show.
The Lebanese designer has long been a red-carpet favorite {remember Mila Kunis at the Oscars ?}, and his ethereal take on drape, beading and a pure appreciation of a woman’s silhouette has me swooning season after season.
A few hours ago, Saab’s models sashayed down the runway in shades of slate blue, silver and washed bronze. The fabrics were flowing, the necklines were surprisingly high, and his signature beading, though ever-present, was remarkably young and fresh.
While all the photos have yet to hit the presses, you can catch a glimpse of the entire collection {including details and mood shots } on NOW Fashion … {yes ladies, it’s a godsend of a site}. Hint: the final look, a showstopper of a wedding gown, will surely stop your breath.
After you take a glimpse at the show, I’ll be dying to know… What are your thoughts on Elie Saab’s F/W 2011 couture line? Which styles and details can you see walking down the aisle {or red carpet}?
xx,

Photo credits: top, via AP Images ; remainder via NOW Fashion

It’s been a while since we’ve showcased some of our “What We Love” features , and boy are we backlogged with some truly darling finds! The first literally arrived at our door a few months ago in a beautiful, multicolored postal box…

“Curious,” I remember thinking, while unwrapping the pretty box, layer by layer to reveal a beautiful custom designed ring dish from the ever-talented Timree Gold … Not sure how she did it, but Timree crafted a gorgeous ring dish that was an exact replica of my engagement ring. Not only was it chic and cute {let’s face it, two of my fav things}, but it was personalized to a tee. It’s been a mainstay on my nightstand ever since.
Once I learned a bit more about the talented Timree {be sure to check out her studio and her impressive roster of celebrity clientele }, I realized that she is one wonderfully creative chica. Her line expands for every occasion, from her natural niche in weddings, to housewarming, mothers day, bat mitzvahs, birthdays and every celebration in between. It seems like Timree’s adorable collection of personalized gifts can be just what the chic New York City girl ordered for any thoughtful gift giving experience – making her Merci New York’s go-to for all things cute and personalized! To learn more, check out Timree’s Web site , blog and Facebook page !

xx,

Wedding Inspiration: Red, White and Blue 4th of July. Hopefully tonight you are enoying a BBQ and watching fireworks and that you are with friends and family. The 4th of July holiday has always been a popular wedding time. And it is no wonder. Some of these July 4th weddings are truly unique and beautiful.

Ever since I saw The Little Orphan Annie , I wanted fireworks. And well sparklers are the next best thing. How romantic is this picture?

wedding themes

How is this for a little vintage and red white and Blue?
wedding color inspiration

This inspiration board below really shows that color can go a long way to bringing out the theme of the wedding. The 4th of July wedding theme is sure to end in fireworks.

wedding inspiration boardsA very safe and happy 4th of July! xo

vera wang bridesmaid dressesVera Wang Bridesmaid Dresses have arrived. They are here. The Vera Wang bridesmaid dresses have entered the building! Which building? The Vera Wang bridesmaid dresses are at David's bridal. And much like Vera Wang there is nothing trite or typical about them. Almost makes me wanna be a bridesmaid. What is that expression? Always a bridesmaid never a bride. Well with these dresses that isn't so bad.

Check out my post on designer bridesmaid dresses for more stylish bridesmaid dresses and dress ideas.

So which Vera Wang bridesmaid dress is your favorite. I love the blue one but there is no way i'm tall enough to pull that off.

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Steampunk Fashion

Showering Amy

Showering Amy