Houston Wedding Blog

Wedding Dresses $1,000 and Under (But Nobody’d Ever Believe It!)

Bridal Gown Bargains

Nobody loves their luxurious couture bridal gowns more than we do. OK, scratch that. Nobody loves their luxurious couture bridal gowns more than YOU do, Houston brides. Rivini, Amsale, Kenneth Pool, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley-Mischka…we get all tingly just thinking about those acres of sumptuous silk.

But, being sensible, practical Texas gals, we also love saving money when we can. Especially when we’re spending zillions already on things like weekly (OK, daily) spa treatments, custom linens and out-of-season peonies.

If you’re in the same boat, or getting married on one, or simply not into the idea of a voluminous confection of a wedding gown, we think you’ll like these dresses. All silk, all stunning, and all $1,000 or less (some–like the gorgeous BCBG Max Azria strapless, below left–MUCH less).

Bridal Gown Bargains

Photos: (Top, clockwise) Tadashi Shoji, Ann Taylor, J. Crew; (Bottom, clockwise) BCBG Max Azria, Nicole Miller, J. Crew

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Sweet Tooth: Little White Wedding Bites

Vintage Dessert Displays

We know a gal who swears that as a toddler she went through a phase where she’d only eat white food. Cottage cheese, rice, white bread. That sort of thing. Now that she’s all grown up, our formerly finicky friend has expanded her culinary tastes exponentially. Thank goodness, too. Because white food is blah food.

Except when it’s dessert. Wedding dessert, in particular. Picture a post-meal sweets spread, filled with exquisite goodies in different wedding-white shades from snow to cream, beckoning guests to dig in. Pretty, right? Especially when displayed on lovely, vintage-inspired tiered dessert trays and cake plates like these. Have your cake…and eat lots of other yummy desserts, too, we say!

Vintage Cake Stands

Photos: (Top, clockwise) Beau-Coup, Diary of a Mad Hausfrau, Sweetly Scrumptious, Amy Atlas Events; (Bottom, clockwise) Preston Bailey, Kaboodle, Re-Found Objects, Burlap and Blue

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Loungewear So Pretty, You’ll Want to Wear it Out!

How yummy are these super-soft bamboo jersey tunics from Bamjamz? OK, you’ve GOT to slip into them to experience their fabulousness fully. But just check out that soft pink and dove gray. And those lovely lotus and butterfly designs? Our heart rate slows down just looking at ’em.

We think they’re perfect for kicking back in after a long, hard day of wedding planning. Bamjamz also makes deliciously comfortable leggings and lounge pants. Worn alone, their tunics make great sleep tops and swim cover-ups (honeymoon, anyone?)…and EXCELLENT bridesmaid gifts. Paired with pants, they’re perfect for lazy Sunday mornings at home with your hubby-to-be. They’re eco-friendly, too. And available locally at Neiman Marcus. Love.

And speaking of local loungewear, we’ve got a major crush on Touche Houston’s simple cotton PJs. How do they manage to be so fresh and soft, like a gentle spring breeze? But still crisp, and definitely sexy—bridal sleepwear at its sophisticated best. Sweet dreams!

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House of Blues Giveaway: Last Week To Enter!

One more week to enter, so many incredible shows to choose from. Don’t miss your chance to snag tickets for two plus dinner for two at the legendary House of Blues, Houston’s hottest venue for live music and sensational Southern-inspired dining (not to mention a VERY cool place to have your engagement party, rehearsal dinner or wedding!

TO ENTER: Visit House of Blues online and select one show from HOB’s concert calendar that you’d skip your best friend’s wedding to attend (OK, you’d NEVER do that…but a show you’d love to see). Then, send us an email with the show date, performer or band’s name and your favorite song. Make sure to include your full name, fiancé’s name and date (exact or approximate) of your wedding.

ENTRY DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2011. Winner will be announced in the April 27 Wedding Buzz and on Facebook.
Good luck!

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Coming Up: NACE Houston Wedding Trends 2011

Photos: D Jones Photography

You may remember when we blogged about the amazing National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) “Indian Weddings”-theme wedding trends luncheon awhile back. Well this year’s annual wedding trends event promises to be even more spectacular, if that’s possible. First of all, the Thurs., April 21 “Sky’s the Limit”-theme bash is not going to be a luncheon at all, but a seriously delish dinner, starting with cocktails and hors d’oeuvre at the wonderful 1940 Air Terminal Museum. Next, guests will jet over to the museum hangar, which will be totally transformed for the occasion by members of NACE Houston—the nation’s largest NACE chapter, which counts Houston’s top wedding experts among its members. It also counts our very own Radhika Day, publisher of Weddings in Houston as one of its longest-serving members. And proudly so.

Naturally, we’ll be there, checking out the latest, greatest trends in wedding design, décor, catering and production from Houston’s finest wedding pros. And we’d love for you to join us. While the NACE wedding trends event is typically geared toward wedding professionals, this year’s dinner is open to brides, too. Buy your tickets, register for this year’s giveaway and you may just win yourself a luxurious Dominican Republic honeymoon package (there’s a reason they call it Paradisus Resort).

For more details or to register for the April 21 “Sky’s the Limit” even, visit WT2011 or NACE Houston. We’re ready for takeoff. How ’bout you?

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Pretty-Near-Perfect Marriage Proposals

The first step to getting married is getting engaged. And all romantic engagements start with a memorable marriage proposal. These sweet, out-of-the-ordinary and altogether unforgettable marriage proposals made us smile, and even shed a few tears. We hope they’ll do the same for you, whether you’re newly married, engaged or a bride-to-be…to-be.

“Yes. Now give me my iPad.” ’Nuff said.

Sure, we expected zaniness, inappropriate behavior and mishaps aplenty when Michael finally proposed to Holly. But not a firm tug at our heartstrings. Surprise, surprise. (Full episode @ link, you can FF to the proposal.)

The brilliant Sarah Pease of New York-based Brilliant Event Planning is a true marriage proposal mastermind. And she’s done it again—this time for a travel-happy couple.

And, of course, who could forget this Houston proposal classic, courtesy Thomas Markle Jewelers? Not these lovebirds, that’s for sure.

Let us know your own romantic proposal story. Comment on this post!

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Venues We Love: House of Blues

Just the words “Foundation Room” are filled with hip, VIP mystique and a promise of exclusive, upscale, elegantly wicked fun. So of course the Foundation Room at House of Blues is a perfect spot for special wedding-related soirees. But there’s so much more to love about House of Blues than its Foundation.

For instance, did you know that HOB’s intimate Elwood Room is a great setting for an afternoon shower? “And guys don’t mind the couple’s shower when they can hang in The Jake Bar Lounge,” promises House of Blues special event sales manager Lauren MacQueen. How’d you like to “party like a rock star in our Big Mama Suite?” MacQueen wants to know. You can, you know, at your ultra-exclusive bachelor or bachelorette party, behind closed doors, with an overhead view of the legendary House of Blues stage. For an unforgettable engagement celebration, book the Bronze Peacock room, which features “playfully sophisticated decor and a dedicated stage for a band or DJ,” plus a cool outdoor terrace, perfect for setting up a cigar bar or hookah lounge. Or treat guests to a morning-after-the-wedding “Gospel Brunch”–there’s no more enjoyable penance for the previous evening’s celebratory hijinks. And that aforementioned Foundation Room? Inspired by the Near East and featuring Persian carpets, beautiful chandeliers and an eclectic display of art from HOB’s private collection, it’s a near perfect mixture of sophistication and peacefulness. Naturally, the food, drinks and service are fabulous, too. Rehearsal dinner, anyone?

Of course, for the ultimate rock ’n roll wedding, there’s no venue more fitting than HOB’s legendary Music Hall. “The bride and groom take center stage as guests view the ceremony from The Mezzanine,” then the entire entourage joins the stars of the show downstairs for a lavish reception on the main floor. For details on how you can hook up HOB for your wedding-related celebration, call 832.667.7757 or click.

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To Do This Week: Mia Bridal Couture’s Incredible Designer Sample Sale

Tiny tubes of moisturizer, itsy bitsy fragrance vials, bite-size bits of anything yummy—we love us some samples. Especially when the sample in question is a designer wedding gown. How about more than 100 designer gowns? From top bridal design houses like Amsale, Rivini, Kenneth Pool, Liancarlo and more?? That’s what you’ll find when Mia Bridal Couture hosts its sensational off-the-rack sample sale this Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Please note that dresses pictured above represent designers that will be featured at the sale, but not the exact gowns that will be featured.

No appointments, early arrival is strongly encouraged, here’s what to expect: Mia has five dressing rooms, so the salon will allow five brides (with an entourage of up to three guests each) into the store at a time. During your time in the store you can choose four dresses to try on. Once you decide on a dress, a very helpful and gracious Mia staffer will have you pay for your dress in full (at a discount of 50-75% off!!) hand you a list of alteration and cleaning specialists, and send you on your soon-to-be-married way.

A few tips when buying your wedding dress off the rack, courtesy of Mia’s Lisa Toenjes:

If a dress is too small, you can have your seamstress change it to a lace-up.
A dress can be taken in approximately three sizes before you lose the look of the dress.
Remember to bring a strapless bra, your favorite heels (or shoes of the same heel height you plan to wear for your wedding), your friends, a camera and lots of excitement!

Good luck, gown shoppers. And remember, patience and manners, girls. It’s just plain good wedding karma!

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