We’re soaking up all the summer we can, but we know that (we can barely write it), golds, beige, and everything in between might replace summery brights in the much-too-near future. Here are some of our favorites for sale now on Bridesmaid Trade:
Five amazing Bill Levkoff dresses in Euro Taupe, style #583. These super chic cocktail-length dresses feature a surplus sleeveless top with front and back V neck, and very flattering pleats. Sizes 6, 4, and several size 8 dresses available. One dress is $95 or all five dresses can be purchased for $375 total. These dresses are gorgeous!
This BRAND NEW Watters and Watters dress is altogether lovely!
The dress is Style #7187 and the color is mallow (love this). It’s a celon frost dupioni v-neck dress with pleated shoulder bands and wrap-a-round ties. The dress was purchased for $303, but is for sale on Bridesmaid Trade for just $165 – amazing!
And speaking of brand now – let’s talk 5 new BCBG tiered strapless dresses. We love this color and the necklaces are included, savvy shoppers. Sizes 0, 4, 6, and 10 are available. While we would have shied away from naming anything “gravel,” we won’t hold it against this fabulous dress.
And finally, Vera Wang could design grocery bags and we’d want to wear them. How much more this dress? Yes. Please. A size 2 and a size 6 are available.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Today we’re honored to feature Bernadette Coveney Smith on the Bridesmaid Trade blog. Bernadette is the author of Gay Wedding Confidential, an expert blogger for Huffington Post, and the founder of 14 Stories. With offices in New York and Boston, 14 Stories’s mission is “to ensure that all LGBT couples have the most positive, supportive experience while planning their wedding.” Bernadette’s drive and determination have always been an inspiration to Bridesmaid Trade, and we’re thrilled to share her insights on the inspiration behind 14 Stories, wedding parties, and how folks in the wedding industry can support marriage equality. You can contact Bernadette and the team at 14 Stories at info(at)14stories.com, or at 617.942.1270 in Boston or 646.580.1270 in New York. You can find them online here and on Facebook and Twitter, too.
Bernadette Coveney Smith of 14 Stories
We’d love to hear a little of the story behind 14 Stories. What inspired you to start your business?
Back in 2003, I was working at a nonprofit organization in downtown Boston, planning their events. I was on my way to the train one morning when I heard on the radio that, later in the day, there would be a verdict on the case challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. I was on pins and needles.
While at work, I kept refreshing the home page of Boston.com waiting for the ruling. Sometime around lunch, the decision was announced, that the state may not “deny the protections, benefits and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry.”
It wasn’t over, of course. The opposition wanted to amend the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for the next six months, there were hearings and protests and tearful and inspiring speeches at the State House. I took long lunches, went there after work and got completely caught up in the fight for marriage equality. At some point, I looked around at all of those couples and thought to myself, “Someone’s got to plan those weddings…”
And I knew, given my background in event planning and given my passion for LGBT advocacy, that I was going to be that person. History was being made in Massachusetts and on May 17, 2004, the law changed and same-sex couples began to legally marry for the first time in United States history. By that time, we were open for business for about three months, and our first wedding ever was that following, Saturday, May 22.
The roles people play in weddings have traditionally been divided along gender lines – even the terms “bridesmaids” and “groomsmen” reflect this difference, for example. What are some creative ways people are getting around this or doing things differently now?
Claire and Meg’s wedding at Boston Harbor. Wedding attendants wore navy suits and dresses. Photo credit Closed Circle Photography
I’ve heard it all. Personally, I use the term “attendants” because it’s gender neutral and inclusive. But only 1/3 of same-sex weddings have any attendants, so don’t assume they’ll even be there. When they are, forget about gender roles…I’ve had male attendants with brides, female attendants with grooms and so on. And the terms that are used can be really interesting and cool: best person, bridesmen, bridespeople, the people standing up with us, etc.
What seem to be the trends in terms of wedding party attire?
There are no trends…anything goes! Last week I had bridesmen in black suits and bridesmaids in black cocktail dresses with colorful crinoline below. One side had purple crinoline and the other had green. Looked fab! But in general, my clients don’t give their people much direction besides a color to stick with (ie – “any navy dress!”)
What practices of sustainability have you most often incorporated into planning a wedding? What are some challenges you see in this area?
Weddings can be massively wasteful! I encourage my clients to minimize the paper products, including favors, menu cards and ceremony programs. We often have the ceremony and reception in the same place, saving fossil fuels for transport. I am grateful for the movement towards locally sourced, sustainably grown food because everything looks and tastes better and my clients demand it. One of the challenges, however, is that due to health code laws in many states, cooked leftovers cannot be donated after the wedding.
Another amazing picture from Claire and Meg’s wedding. Photo credit Closed Circle Photography
What are some suggestions that those of us in the wedding industry can do to show our support for marriage equality?
Well, get out there and be an activist! Donate your time or money to a marriage equality organization in your area. Change up your wedding materials to be gender neutral. Put some language on your website that affirms marriage equality. If you hope to make money from the “lucrative gay wedding industry”, then I sure hope you help us fight for our rights.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Today’s post is from Emily, a member of the Bridesmaid Trade team. See what inspired her, and how you can incorporate it into your wedding!
As I was looking off into the ocean, under the night sky, little lights floated upwards. The first thing that came to mind was lanterns. After a little digging, I found that it was part of the Chinese culture, dating back to over 2000 years ago. During the last night of the Chinese New Year, also known as Lantern Night , people would write their wishes on their paper lantern, and send them lit into the sky, as part of tradition. It was believed that the gods in heaven would receive these, and send their blessings.
You can make your own lanterns or purchase them for as low as 89 cents!
This was such a beautiful sight to see, something unique to use as part of a wedding ceremony. Each guest will write a well wish for the newlyweds and send their lanterns floating up towards the night sky.
(all images via Google)
Float on!
xo, Emily
Tags: Floating Lantern
Posted in Unique Weddings | No Comments »
By now we hope you have heard about Pinterest. And if you are a planning a wedding, we are sure you have come to realize that Pinterest is addicting. Endless visual style boards can be created with just a few clicks. What could be a better wedding planning tool that provides images, and the source it came from…possibly with more information (DIY instructions we hope?!). So whether you are looking for ideas on how to use mason jars, or ways display your seating chart, Pinterest your weddng dream come true!
Here are five of our favorite and most inspiring wedding dedicated Pinterest boards. Get ready to swoon…
- All things gorgeous in Wedding, Wedding, Wedding.
- Simply sweet with some DIY in Wishful.
- Paper Goods that inspire.
- Get weak in the knees with Lucky Little Love .
- Dream about sparkle with these Diamonds!
Tags: Pinterest, wedding planning
Posted in Media | No Comments »
Planning a wedding? Looking to to make it as stress free as possible (obviously!)? Maybe in a tropical or exotic destination (sign us up!)?
DestinationWeddings.com are truly experts when it comes to planning weddings, down to every last detail. They have planned over 13,000 weddings, and not only working with the soon-to-be newlyweds, but also their guests! Talk about celebrating love, and fun in the sun! Working with all types of budgets, planning your dream wedding is their passion! And get this…their services are FREE!!
So if you have always been picturing a romantic barefoot ceremony in the soft white sand, overlooking a turquoise tide, OR a lavish soiree in a Tuscan villa, contact DestinationWeddings.com now! Any of these countries with amazing mountains and shores (and everything in between) strike your fancy for a destination wedding?
- Mexico
- Dominican Republic
- Bahamas
- Caribbean
- Central America
- South America
- Jamaica
- Hawauu
- Austrailia
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Tahiti
- Europe
(Photo via DestinationWeddings.com)
Tags: destination, wedding
Posted in Beautiful but Affordable weddings, Unique Weddings | No Comments »
