We don’t know about you, but when people speak of Labor Day we always think of one last hoorah down on some white, sandy beaches and barbecues with family and friends gathered together. And since we can bet that many will will flock to the beach this weekend to get in one last golden tan before the cooler days arrive, we put together a little something for your viewing pleasure to kick-off your Labor Day weekend with some end-of-summer and beach inspiration with a nautical touch. Enjoy your three-day weekend to relax and take in what is often know as the last true weekend of summer!

{Photo Credits} Top Row: Nautical Tablescape, Cupcakes, Boutonniere | Second Row: Card Table, Oars, Drift Wood | Third Row:  Bucket Tablescape, Save The Date, Ceremony Sign | Bottom Row: Seaside Tablescape, Ceremony Site, Bride & Bridesmaids

It’s finally the moment you’ve been waiting for. The moment you’ve been dreaming of. It is time to find the wedding dress of your dreams. Now, since we are pretty sure this is something you haven’t  done before, it can be a little confusing.  Where  do you start?  What should you be looking for?  How far in advance should you decide on a dress?

Well here are some tips to get you in the right direction and into the dress that was made just for you!

Start Ahead of Time: Give yourself plenty of time to plan. Generally a rule of thumb is you need to order your gown at least six months before your wedding.  Ideally start shopping for your gown nine months or more before your wedding. If you don’t have this much time know you will need to budget  for some rush charges.

Nix the Impulses: We suggest you bring a few of your closest friends and family members who you trust.  This is an emotional experience so do not feed into the impulse to buy right away! Even if everyone is really excited about a certain gown, don’t buy in the heat of the moment. Make sure to give yourself time to reconsider. You can go back and buy once you have cooled off from the moment. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you’ve bought it, you’ve bought it.

“The One:” If you’ve bought “The One,” stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress Brides. Having second thoughts? Go get The One out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You’ll remember exactly why it’s The One!

S-T-Y-L-E: So you’ve always dreamed of a princess cut dress or a sultry, strapless number? Don’t get stuck on one style of dress before you try on a few different varieties! There are many styles available and it will only help you find the dream dress if you have an open mind.  Try to select that you are most comfortable in because this will add to your confidence. Remember, you will be wearing this dress for hours so if after 5 minutes you’re itching to get out of it, ditch the dress and continue looking for another.

Price Tags: We’d all love a one-of-a-kind Vera Wang dress, but we just all can’t afford it. So if money is an issue,  remember the most expensive kind of dress is not necessarily the best kind. Before you start shopping for your dress set a budget and don’t look at dresses over this price tag!   Also consider taking pictures from magazines to a friend who sews or seamstress and getting a quote from them.

Trial Run: It is best to do your hair, makeup, accessories and final dress fitting all in one. Schedule your hair and makeup trial the morning of your final dress fitting. This way you will see it all come together and there will be no surprises on your wedding day.  Speaking of running, make sure you break in those shoes ahead of time! Strut them around the house to make sure they are completely comfortable to carry you through the long hours you’ll be on your feet.

{LVL’s Wedding Day Tips for your Wedding Dress}

• Have a specialty or wooden hangar for your dress. Many brides forget this minor detail but remember your photographer will get a picture of your beautiful gown hanging and you want to look glamorous!
• Bring a white sheet if you are wearing your dress to the ceremony. This way you are assured not to get anything on it before you walk down the aisle.

{LVL’s Wedding Salon Favs}

Online: Twobirds Bridesmaid, J.Crew Orange County: The Dresser, The White Dress, Erin Cole Couture San Diego: The Bustle, Here Comes the Bride

Photography compliments of: (left to right) Henry Chen Photography, Lauren Hillary Photography, Barnet Photography, Shannon Mills Photography

VINTAGE BROOCH BOUQUET

This brooch bouquet was created by, Amanda Heer owner of Fantasy Floral Design.  Amanda made her first vintage brooch bouquet over 10 years ago as one for herself.  What we love most about this idea is that since the brides provide the brooches, each bouquet is not only a one-of-a-kind, but it is also something will hold a special meaning to the bride and her family since most brides have family items placed in the bouquet.  And you don’t have to stop at brooches to add to your bouquet either. Brides can send in buttons, cuff links, watches or anything else that holds a special meaning in their heart.

THE ELIZABETHAN BOUQUET

This bouquet created by Larrissa Rehder, Owner of Inviting Occasion used flowering purple basil, flowering thyme  and lavender  which is can be found in late July- mid August.  She wanted to incorporate herbs for their fun texture and fragrance but also wanted to hint of the Elizabethan era.

The Elizabethan notion believe plants had “magic” properties (thought to bring luck) and mythical qualities. Elizabethans, regardless of social standing, used herbs in every facet of a wedding . . . from the bride’s headpiece to the decorations of candelabrums. The variety of herbs which were used included rosemary, thyme, lavender, chive, marjoram and sage.  Herbs were used to decorate walkways and, sometimes, encompassed entire gardens. Groups of bundles were designed based on fragrance, color and mythical meaning. Bridesmaids often carried small bunches of herbs called “tussie-mussies,” which were little tied posies of sweet-smelling herbs.

LVL’s  Tip:

Here’s something fun for your bridal shower! Request each guest to bring you a brooch, then you’ll have a whole bouquet from family and friends ready to be assembled! Want a certain look for your brooch bouquet? Tell your bridal shower attendees to follow a color scheme to match your chosen look.

Use herbs for your bridal bouquet and other florals at your wedding. As long as you are okay with fragrant florals this is a cost effective and eco friendly way to decorate!

{Photos} Alice Chu Photography and Larry Crandall Photography

From Left to right; Designed by LVL Weddings & Events, Candee by Sandee and Inviting Occasion.

We’ve all heard of the saying, “Like a Kid in a Candy Store,” and when presented with a table full of your favorite, delicious treats don’t you just get down right excited like a little kid? We sure do and so do our clients.   In the past few years  my clients have really jumped on the candy station band wagon and we have too!

Not only does it spice up the party but it also makes for a fun and interactive favor for your wedding guests to take home. Whether you are designing the candy station yourself or hiring someone, here are some helpful tips on how to create a fabulous candy station.

Decide on a Color Palette: Most brides decide on a color palette that matches the overall design of the reception. This will help bring cohesion to your entire event.

Create Depth and Height: It helps if you create a table that incorporates different shape and sizes of containers. A little trick I found is to use old cardboard boxes or telephone books to give the display some height.   You can wrap the boxes in decorative paper, or even leave them bare and cover with matching linens. Just make sure your containers are large enough for someone’s hand so they can easily grab the goodies.

Details: As our blog states, “It’s All About The Details,” and we believe good quality linens, ribbons and paper add nice touches to your overall display. For example, you can make little tags and tie them around the container so your guests know what type of candy they are eating.

Location: Where will it be located?  What does the backdrop look like? You may need to bring in a linen to cover the wall behind it because there is nothing like having a beautiful display and a clashing picture in the background.   Will it be open so people can access it from all sides?  Will it even have sides, or will it be round?  These are all good questions to ask yourself before deciding on a set-up design.

The Weather Man:  We all know candy melts so make sure you know what the weather is going to be like.  Will the table be indoors or outdoors?  If indoor, will there be AC?  If there is a possibility it might be hot outside then avoid using candies that could easily melt.

More than Candy:  Adding fruit is great to your Buffet, but think of other tasty and small snacks you can provide. If you’re open to treats in other forms, consider mini cookies, kettle corn or spiced nuts as sweet additions.  Also consider placing the wedding cake or groom’s cake on the same table to add visual diversity.

Portion Control: It’s easy to worry about not having enough for everyone, but if you’re planning to include a meal and cake in your reception, guests probably won’t be stuffing themselves with extra sugar.  A small portion of ½ cup (4 oz) or less is a good estimate per person.  If you want to buy in bulk for a visual effect, make sure to save the large containers for popular candies so you won’t have too many leftovers.

Think outside the Jar:  Apothecary jars and similar containers tend to be the standard on Candy Buffets but this is not your only option. Vases are inexpensive alternatives and are easy to find.    Don’t be afraid to use cake stands, flat platters, and other serving ware to give your guests a variety of ways to choose their sweets!

Individual Containers:  It is always a good idea to have someone man your candy table in case you need to replenish. If you hire someone to design your candy table then they usually offer someone to man the table as well. If you’ve set up your table as a DIY favor station, little bags or mini boxes can be great take-homes.  Dress them up with a little label and ribbon (maybe with your monogram or a little saying) and your guests have a tasty treat for later.  Small, clear plastic cups or even napkins are also cheap ideas if you prefer the candy to be eaten on the spot.

Check out your local retailers or some of the online stores suggested below:

Online Candy Stores:

• http://www.candywarehouse.com/
• http://www.candyfavorites.com/
• http://www.bulkcandystore.com/
• http://www.metrocandy.com/home.asp
• http://www.candydirect.com/
• http://www.blaircandy.com/
• http://www.hometownfavorites.com/shop/candy_store.asp
• http://www.oldtimecandy.com/
• http://www.groovycandies.com/
• http://www.sweetnostalgia.com/
• http://www.nutsonline.com/gifts/weddingfavors/

Local Stores:

• Your neighborhood grocery store: Safeway, Lucky, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc.
• Bulk stores like Costco or Sam’s Club
• Michael’s: they have a special selection of wedding candies
• Ethnic grocers like Ranch 99 may also carry some unique treats that can give your table a broader range of tastes.

Containers and Things:

• Restaurant supply stores, like Kamei or East Bay Restaurant Supply
• Save On Crafts: http://save-on-crafts.com/
• CB2: http://www.cb2.com/
• Michael’s
• Furniture stores like Ikea, Crate & Barrel
• Thrift or second-hand shops
• Cost-saving stores like Target, Ross, or the Dollar Store
• Scoops: http://www.lionsdeal.com/wi-as-5.html
• More scoops: http://store.primaryshopping.net/30002413.html

{Special Thanks} Project Wedding for the Web sites.

Photography compliments of  Robin Gray Photography, Jim Kennedy Photographers, Henry Chen Photography