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The Fairest Of Them All: Snow White & the Huntsman Wedding InspirationThu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 -0500
Photo: Yasu + Junko
First Ginnifer Goodwin hit ABC in Once upon a Time. Then Julia Roberts and Lily Collins sparred in Mirror Mirror. Now the epic, edgy Snow White & the Huntsman (out June 1) has viewers buzzing. Kristen Stewart stars as the titular badass princess, while a murderously chic Charlize Theron shreds scenery as the worst stepmother ever. From a glittering gown to a wicked apple ring, our mood board has everything you need to make your wedding the fairest of them all. Well, almost: seven tiny groomsmen not included. See the full slideshow for all the details.
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Photo: Lisa Lefkowitz
"It was classic and elegant, feminine and ethereal, and everything I'd ever dreamed of." —Minnie
To see more of Minnie and Brian's San Francisco wedding, visit our Real Weddings Gallery.
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Photo: Courtesy Tammy Carmona
Above, a dramatic wall bathed in purple light provides the backdrop for an intimate receiving area. The creative force behind this romantic setting is world-class event, floral, food, and dinnerware designer Tammy Carmona, who recently launched her own line of dishes, Carmona New York & Co.
Carmona created this elegant space for a bride to receive and bless her guests, a Jewish Chassidish wedding custom. Featuring a regal settee, large vases overflowing with orchids, and ornately framed "floral art," the area was easily transitioned into a backdrop for the head table later in the celebration. "I love the way the flowers are creating a picture, bringing life to something that's otherwise very flat," says Carmona, who also designed Edward and Bella's whimsical forest wedding in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1. "We created a living room environment that makes you feel at home at a high end event. It's very dramatic, very romantic."
—Alyssa Wells
For more wedding style ideas and inspiration, visit our Wedding Style Gallery.
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Photo: Levi Brown
I already knew he wasn't right for me, this guy my friend had dragged me out of New York on New Year's Eve to meet.
I knew exactly whom I was supposed to be with, and it was not this stranger. My soul mate was worldly, creative, successful, plugged in—just like me, except with more self-confidence. He'd mesh flawlessly with my stylish urban life of dinners, friends, weekends seeing art exhibits and indie bands. I didn't care about wealthy or powerful. I cared about cool. And this Kevin person my friend was forcing me to meet was clearly uncool. He lived two hours away; he didn't have a remarkable job or a byline or a portfolio. Forget it.
On the other hand, I was getting older, and Perfect Soul Mate had yet to materialize. The cool guys I dated weren't turning out so well, and one particularly bad breakup spurred me into action. With the help of the vast world of online matchmaking (and several supportive friends on speed-dial), I bulk-dated. It was, by and large, a great experience. I met a lot of nice guys who were completely uncool but—and this was new for me—really very happy to spend their weekends with me. That Perfect Soul Mate began to get a little fuzzy around the edges—but I held out hope.
So when one amateur-matchmaker friend said she had a setup for me and she was throwing a New Year's Eve potluck expressly to make the connection, I balked. "I'm dated out," I said. "I don't want to spend New Year's on a blind date. Some of my girlfriends are going to a nightclub. I'd rather do that."
"Okay." Her voice over the phone was calm, though I have to think she was stabbing a fork into my picture. "If that's how you feel."
The email she sent a few minutes later was gentle but insistent. "I know you're tired of the meet-and-greet," she wrote, "but I am setting you up with a single, straight, available man who likes to cook, make furniture, and garden, and has two dogs. And you're telling me you'd rather go out and do tequila shots."
So there I was, at potluck New Year's Eve in the Catskills, studiously avoiding Kevin, when I noticed a pan of brownies. They looked food-porn beautiful, but, snob that I was, I doubted the inside would match the outside. What the heck; I cut a square and took a bite.
Mouth shock. It was the best brownie I had ever tasted. Intensely fudgy and rich, not too sweet and with a hint of salt, the kind of treat you'd pay $3 for at a coffee bar. "This is amazing," I told my friend. "Who made it?" With a smug look on her face, she pointed across the room. "Kevin," she said. The man she wanted me to meet. I looked his way at the precise moment he glanced at me, and a quiet voice in my head said, "That's the man you're going to marry."
No, voice, I am not, I thought heatedly. He is entirely wrong for me. Impossible.
Continue reading after the jump...
Photos: Getty Images (left); Courtesy of Jenny Packham (right)
Kate Middleton showed off her glamorous style and a bit of daring wearing a jade green Jenny Packham dress at the Our Greatest Team Rises concert held at London's Royal Albert Hall to mark the countdown to this summer's Olympic Games. The gown, from the designer's Spring 2012 collection, features a sheer lace back, lace cap sleeves, a dainty beaded belt, and a flowing silk chiffon skirt. Style savvy Middleton accessorized the look with a small clutch of the same turquoise hue, silver Jimmy Choo platforms, and an elegant, braided up-do. (And gorgeous Kate still goes it alone when it comes to makeup and styling. The Duchess doesn't have an official stylist and selects all of her outfits, according to People.)
Jenny Packham's Spring 2012 bridal equivalent to the stunning dress features the same delicate details and plunging neckline—though Middleton's gown offered a more demure look than what we saw on the runway. While an excess of décolletage is a don't for most brides, it's likely particularly taboo for the future Queen of England.
Aspen, $5,000, Jenny Packham
—Alyssa Wells
To see more Jenny Packham wedding dresses, visit our Runway Gallery.
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Photo: Cooper Carras Photography
In 2007, BenJoaquín attended a performance of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor to watch his sister, an opera singer, perform. He found himself captivated by her friend, soprano Khori, whom he spotted after the show. "Her performance was hauntingly beautiful," BenJoaquín says, "and even though she was totally out of my league, I tried to make eye contact all night." Their paths crossed again at a party a few weeks later, and BenJoaquín still couldn't get Khori's attention. But the third time proved to be the charm: On a sunny afternoon, BenJoaquín and his sister were at a park in San Francisco when Khori called to meet up. The pair instantly hit it off, and the afternoon turned into an evening outing to see the 1960 film "The Apartment." "I think we both started planning the wedding that night," he says.
It wasn't until four years later, on October 15, 2011, that the couple married at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach, California, a Tudor-style inn and pub tucked near a coastal redwood forest. "We've spent many Sunday afternoons drinking pints on the lawn," says Khori. Almost all of the 63 guests flew in for the intimate wedding weekend, which included a Friday horseback ride and beach bonfire, and a Saturday-afternoon ceremony in the inn's glass-enclosed conservatory.
"As an opera singer, I have plenty of princess moments. I didn't want to be onstage at my wedding," says Khori, 31, who wore a simple spaghetti-strap dress fashioned from a vintage ivory sari—a nod to her Indian heritage. Artist Darcy Vasudev painted a traditional Indian henna tattoo on Khori's palms. "I wanted my bouquet to look
wild and to fit in with the English-country style of the venue," says Khori (seen below posing with her sister).
The service was similarly relaxed, with mix-and-match chairs from the dining room and garlands of Easter lilies and carnations. "Everyone was beaming. BenJoaquín was crying," says Khori. "I floated—literally, floated—down the aisle." The couple wrote their own vows; fittingly, BenJoaquín, 27, included lines from "The Apartment," the film they'd seen on their first date. The bride's dog, Redford, stayed by her side during the ceremony. "My vows began with 'My dearest love'—Redford leapt up instantly!" she says.
After the ceremony, blues guitarist Ike Cosse—"he plays at our local farmer's market," says Khori—jammed on the lawn while guests downed pints of Guinness and pub-style hors d'oeuvres like miniature fish-and-chips. Then guests headed to the cozy, fire-lit dining room for a buffet-style reception of roasted salmon, brown sugar-crusted ham, and prime rib, accompanied by organic vegetables grown at a farm just down the road.
Reception tables were topped with persimmons, sweet peas, olives, Queen Anne's lace, tulips, ranunculus, and privet in vintage vessels. The croquembouche was made of Tahitian vanilla, Meyer lemon, and Four Barrel espresso profiteroles. "We had fun kissing each other over the top of the croquembouche!" says Khori.
Next came dancing (For which Khori changed into a lace mini by Diane von Furstenberg) and rounds of toasts—including one from Khori's 92-year-old grandmother. "At one point, we looked out on the dining room," says Khori. "Our families had blended, and we knew people had made lifelong friends—we'll never forget how special that night was."
Photos: Cooper Carras Photography
Venue & catering: Pelican Inn || Bride's dress and veil: Judy Lee || Bride's reception dress: Diane von Furstenberg || Bride's shoes: Stuart Weitzman || Groom's suit: Al's Attire || Flowers: Studio Choo || Stationery: Andy Beers, Ore Studios || Cocktail-hour music: Ike Cosse; 408-261- 3622 || Croquembouche: Lori Oyamada; phlurp9@hotmail.com || Hair & makeup: Eliza Desch || Photography: Cooper Carras Photography
Visit our Real Weddings page to find more bohemian style inspiration.
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Our 31 Days of Giveaways continues with 3 must-have Bridal Kits from Spanx.
As much as you've absolutely killed yourself at the gym and focused on healthy-er eating in the months leading up to your wedding day, sometimes it's just not enough. That's where Spanx comes in. The genius line of undergarments provide a stunningly seamless look. And what day is more crucial for achieving your smoothest of shapes than your wedding day? Enter the killer Spanx Bridal Kit, which includes: an Active Power Pant, a Sportease! Athletic Lowrise Sock, a Bra-Cha-Cha Strapless Bra, a Slimmer & Shine Tunic and a But...Naked! Thong. Lastly, the Spanx team threw in a Spanx for Men Zoned Performance Crew Neck for your groom-to-be (believe us, he'll thank you later). We only wish we could see your pictures...
Photo: Courtesy of SPANX
Entering to win 1 of 3 amazing Spanx bridal kits is easy, just follow the steps below:
1. Check with Brides.com every morning to hear about the amazing prize up for grabs that day.
2. Head over to our Win page to sign up. It only takes 30 seconds, tops (we timed it).
3. Wait to hear back if you're a lucky winner. Don't worry, we won't make you twiddle your thumbs too long! (Winners will be alerted via email no later than June 15th.)
4. Repeat the next day and the day after that, so on and so forth...
You can follow Spanx on Twitter and Facebook. And be sure to check out the Spanx Wedding Guide!
*Just remember, you can sign up to win each day's dedicated prize (that's 31 separate giveaway items!), but you have to keep coming back to sign up. Limit 1 person per entry per day. Winners will be selected at random.
—Gray MacDonald
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Source: weddingchicks.com via BRIDES on Pinterest
Photo: Emily Johnston Anderson
"We're both old-fashioned at heart and wanted our wedding to have a classic, traditional feel." —Melanie
To see more of Melanie and Timothy's classic winter wedding, visit our Real Weddings Gallery.
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Photo: Aaron Dyer
Above, NYC-based fashion and bridal designer Lela Rose shares her favorite registry items for bed and bath. These are perfect picks for a fresh, modern bride who loves quirky details.
View all of the items—and where to buy—in the full slideshow.
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Photo: Courtesy of Fox
Fans who wanted the Glee season three finale to wrap up everything with a pretty bow (preferably on a wedding gift) can forget about popping the champagne. Not only did one of the series' most shocking storylines—the wedding of Rachel and Finn—not happen, the sweet-singing duo ultimately split with newly minted New Yorker Rachel Berry fading down Fifth Avenue.
It was obvious something was awry when their impending nuptials went unmentioned until a scene that focused on the couple's disagreement over wedding reception chairs. Rachel, who feels she's already compromised on the food, venue, and nearly everything else ("Does my butt have to compromise too?" she asks), wants the elegant, pricier option. Finn's behind is just fine with white folding chairs, but something else is on his mind—his fear that starry-eyed Rachel is settling for less than she deserves by marrying him. Reassurances are offered and there's a shimmer of hope that we'll get to see Rachel step out in her Audrey Hepburn-inspired wedding dress (above) a second time, until, later in the episode, Finn confides in his mother that he feels like he's failed his late father by becoming an actor instead of setting his sights on a military career. His doubts about acting are only exacerbated when he's rejected from The Actor's Studio—of Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio—while Rachel gets into the prestigious New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. (Kurt, in a heartbreaking move by the Glee powers-at-be, is rejected from NYADA.)
Rachel decides to defer her acceptance for a year to help Finn and Kurt work on their applications in hopes they can all move to New York as planned. Finn, however, has seemingly coordinated a pseudo-kidnapping scheme with Rachel's fathers and delivers her to the train station so she can meet her parents in New York to look at dormitories. "You're going to get on that train. OK?" he tells her. "And you're going to go to New York and be a star, without me. That's how much I love you." Rachel, devastated and dissolved to tears, puts up a fight but ultimately boards the train and emerges from New York's Grand Central in a bright red pea coat (and a very smart hat).
And that's it! Luckily, Rachel, Finn, and Kurt are all slated to return for season 4, but no news on whether the lovebirds will be reunited—or if we'll ever get to experience a "Finchel" wedding. Even so, the Rachel-Finn engagement storyline created a lot of buzz for the popular series, and with Kurt—who, in my opinion, should have been admitted to NYADA over Rachel (he killed his audition!)—sticking around Ohio, what's not to say Glee's producers won't send Kurt and Blaine down the aisle? Sure, it's highly unlikely that the teen wedding storyline will get a second treatment (nor should it!), but I'm still selfishly holding out for another epic, musical processional—especially since creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy confirmed in an interview with Vulture that "Mr. Shue" wont be tying the knot any time soon.
—Alyssa Wells
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Photo: Johnny Miller
In her new book, Sweet Designs, sweets stylist Amy Atlas offers more than 175 recipes and dessert displays perfect for DIY brides on their wedding day. Here, Atlas takes us through her colorfully crafty idea to transform Necco Wafers into a graphic table r 00003475 unner.
First, a little background on the prosaic little Necco Wafer, an acronym for the New England Confectionery Company, which was created more than 160 years ago. Would you believe that Admiral Byrd hauled two and a half tons of the little disks to the South Pole and that the U.S. government requisitioned a major portion of them for its troops during World War II? The Necco Wafer is practically indestructible, which is good news if you make a table runner out of it (which will give you candy cred for a lifetime)! You might want to approach this project as if you're hosting a quilting bee—invite a few friends over, heat up the glue guns, and start "quilting." I used an Omnigrid straight edge, a tool quilters use to make perfect squares.
MATERIALS
Waxed paper
1 5x3-foot-wide piece of neutral netting or tulle
72 2-ounce rolls Necco Wafers, brown and black separated out
TOOLS
Gridded ruler mat with 1-inch markings, such as an Omnigrid
Hot glue gun
Photo: Johnny Miller
DIRECTIONS
1) Lay sheets of waxed paper on a gridded ruler.
2) Spread the tulle or netting on top of the waxed paper. Measure and mark the tulle 6 inches from each edge to create a frame. You will be gluing the wafers in strips inside the frame.
3) Using the gridded ruler as your guide, hot glue the wafers to the tulle, logo side down, in strips in a rainbow pattern. Vary the lengths of the strips (see Template Index, page 337, and download the tem¬plate at http://blog.amyatlas.com). You will be creating 48 strips. Make certain the glue is dry before proceeding to step 4.
4) With the help of a friend, flip the runner over so that the waxed paper is facing up. Gently peel away the waxed paper from the tulle. Flip the runner over again so that it is Necco Wafer side up.
5) Position the runner in the center of the table. To store, place the runner between two sheets of packing paper and roll into a log. Place in a plastic bag and store at room temperature.
Photo: Johnny Miller
Extra tip: Use a piece of fabric with multicolored pastel polka dots, or white dots on a pastel background. Ideally, the dots should be at least 1 inch wide. Alternatively, you can sprinkle inexpensive confetti dots or Necco Wafers over a solid-colored fabric. Kids love to sprinkle these around; invite them to help you.
—Amy Atlas
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In a collection of romantic lace wedding gowns and trendy peplum silhouettes, this silk-crepe halter sheath by Amsale Aberra attracts added attention with its deviant, skin-baring back. But that isn't the only difference that conveys a spirit of effortless elegance amidst graphic fabrics and voluminous shapes. The sweeping satin ribbon and beaded neckline elevate this fitted column from sultry to sophisticated and free brides from seeking out wedding-day accessories (it's budget-friendly to boot!). Just add a great pair of heels to complete the look for your modern summer wedding—perhaps even in Brooklyn, considering the name Aberra bequeathed her design.
Brooklyn, $4,700, Amsale
—Phillip B. Crook
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From Recipe to Registry: Smitten Kitchen's Spring Salad with New PotatoesWed, 23 May 2012 10:00:26 -0500
Photo: Deb Perelman
The official launch of outdoor barbecue season is a mere three days away. Whether you're hosting a Memorial Day get-together in your own newlywed nest or attending someone else's shindig, this seasonal and elegant twist on the ubiquitous potato salad is the perfect side dish. Please everyone's palates and Smitten-ify your kitchen with this week's recipe and registry picks below.
PS: Smitten Kitchen fans take note: Deb's very first cookbook is out October 30th and available now for pre-sale on Amazon. Can you say shower gift?!
RECIPE
Salad
2 lb small new or fingerling potatoes (mix of reds & Yukon golds recommended)
1 lb asparagus
1/4 lb sugar snap peas, green beans or other spring pea
4 small or medium radishes, thinly sliced
Pickled Spring Onions
3 spring onions (about 6 oz)
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp Diamond kosher salt (less if using Morton or table salt)
1 1/2 tsp sugar
Sharp Mustard Vinaigrette
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp whole grain mustard (Maille or Roland recommended)
2 tsp smooth Dijon mustard
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Recipe courtesy of Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen. Visit Smitten Kitchen for preparation instructions.
REGISTRY ITEMS
All-Clad stainless steel covered saucepan
Sturdy saucepans are a kitchen must. Use these for everything from soups and sauces to potatoes and pasta.
Stainless steel covered saucepans, $129.99-$224.99 each, Bed, Bath & Beyond
Container Store collapsible colander
Is your kitchen as tiny as Smitten's? Save space with a flexible strainer that takes up 1" of space when collapsed and holds up to a quart of food when expanded.
Collapsible strainer, $14.99, The Container Store
Wusthof monogrammed Santoku knife
Hollow-ground Santoku knives reduce friction during slicing and minimize sticking, so they're perfect for tasks like making paper-thin slices of radishes. This monogrammed version is one more excuse to use your (new!) married initials.
"Classic" monogrammed Santoku knife, $89.95-$99.95, Williams-Sonoma
Anchor Hocking mixing bowls
These are Deb's fave bowls, and they should be yours too. They're durable, they nest, their narrow bottoms take up less counter space, and they're smart enough to take to the table. Need we say more?
"Contemporary" bowls, $35 for 3-piece set, Amazon
Virginia Sin "paper" plates
Whether you're serving your Memorial Day feast grill-side or at the dining room table, these picnic-inspired plates will put everyone in an "al fresco" state of mind.
Porcelain paper plates, $35-$85 each, Cube Marketplace
Fishs Eddy napkins
Sage striped napkins will complement your spring salad and bring a little punch to your table setting. Mix and match with other colors for even more pizzazz.
Sage striped napkin, $5.95, Fishs Eddy
Jars serving bowl
The organic, handmade feel of this serving bowl will make a statement on your table but the neutral glaze won't detract from the brightness of the spring vegetables inside.
"Plume" bowl, $90, Bloomingdale's
Zani & Zani salad serving set
This contemporary serving set is a nice contrast to the natural curves of the "Plume" bowl. A no-stick coating allows you to scoop up the goodies in the bottom of the bowl with ease.
"Sabrina" salad spoon and fork, $250, ABC Home
—Arielle Shipper
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Thousands march for peace in Mexico TENS of thousands of people have marched in Mexico's second most populous city, angry at the inability of authorities to end a crime wave.
(heraldsun world)
Fake Android apps scam cost users £28,000 Malicious Android apps posed as Angry Birds and Cut the Rope in a scam that used premium rate text messages to defraud customers of £27,850.
(telegraph technology)
First creature to walk on land 'dragged itself along' - like it was on crutches The creature lived in floodplains on what is now Greenland during a period known geologically as the Devonian period - about 360 to 410 million years ago.
(dailymail sciencetech)
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) ready to install.