StyleSchool

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Read on for more things worth celebrating, including great colors for summer and a gorgeous destination wedding.

—Jessica Derschowitz

You can’t bake cookies without sugar and flour, but don't forget the rolling pin. Rolling Pin Productions (rollingpinproductions.com) is our favorite new find for artful and delicious wedding cookies. Whether you serve them at your bash or send guests home with a few, these sugary, sweet confections will ensure guests are glad they came.

When we first saw these confections, we knew they were no ordinary cookies, and once we tasted them we knew we were right. Why? These cookies are on the short list of desserts that actually taste as good as they look. We love the custom monogrammed wedding handkerchiefs ($7.50 each), the mini rose wedding hearts ($4.50 each), but the wedding couple wedding cakes ($8.50 each) were the real hit in our office. 

The one catch? These hand painted treats are stamped-out by custom cookie cutters, so you'll have to handle with care. After all, they're so delicious you want them to crumble in your mouth, not your hands.

—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant

We were lucky enough to be able to chat up Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events (cobaltevents.com) this afternoon. Nicole helped former Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson pull off her recent wedding at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and she was nice enough to share some of the incredible details. Here are some highlights...

The color palette...
Lavender and white. Kendra liked the way the colors looked together and they fit in perfectly with the classic, fairy-tale wedding she envisioned.

The bouquets...
The bouquets featured roses and orchids. To incorporate the purple, LA Premier (lapremier.com) added braided lavender and white ribbon into the base of the bridesmaid bouquets.

The ceremony locale...
Marrying in front of the wishing well at the mansion was very significant to Kendra. Nicole and her team decked it out with an all-white triple arch the featured a pave of roses, draped chiffon and a floral chandelier. Floral balls lined the aisle.

The reception...
The reception was also on the grounds of the mansion, in a gorgeously decorated tent draped on the top and sides with chiffon. Chandeliers adorned with ostrich feathers illuminated the space and projections of pictures of Kendra and Hank played throughout the night. The table were decorated with custom white tufted linens and beautiful tall centerpieces that included lavender, roses, hydrangea and orchids and were draped with crystals. The head table where the newlyweds sat was lined with white boxes filled with hydrangea, lavender, orchids and roses.

The favors...
At each setting, the couple gave guests almond-shaped chocolates from Gourmandise Paris (gourmandiseparis.com) that matched the lavender and white color scheme. At the end of the night, guests could also munch on monogrammed football-shaped cookies (provided by Weddingish.com), which were displayed on a bed of wheatgrass as an ode to the groom who is a professional football player.

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

This week, we're checking in with New York-based baker April Reed. Reed launched her eponymous cake design company in 2005 with an unwavering commitment to cakes that actually tasted good. Since then, her bake shop has become known for modern designs, scary-realistic sugar flowers, and of course, delicious cake.

How does your bakery differ from the rest of the pack?
Flavor is job number one. Period. That is one of the biggest things that sets us apart from other cake design companies in New York. I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and, prior to opening April Reed Cake Design, had been cooking in the three-star NYC restaurant world. My cake approach starts with flavor, then moves to design. I had a client who was unable to save the top tier of her cake for her anniversary because the guests demanded to eat it. It's the reason I make cake.

Why do you enjoy working on wedding cakes?
Wedding cakes are a chance to create stunning design while making people happy with tastiness. They are fleeting—they exist for four hours, then they are eaten. I love that...

What's been your absolute favorite wedding cake so far?
Thread designer Melissa Akey's cake is one of my all-time favorites. It's understated elegance to the max and wedding-y without being wedding-y. The single big blossom hearkens back to a bygone era of elegance. Melissa had an old-fashioned red velvet cake with cream cheese filling and white fondant. Her cake was trimmed in the most luxurious Mokuba ribbon.

Any advice for couples choosing their wedding cake?
Taste, taste, taste! After you have narrowed your top cake designers down to a style that works for you and your wedding's aesthetic, set appointments with them to taste their cake. It is a given that the wedding cake should be show-stopping, but it should also be the BEST piece of cake you will ever eat.

For more information on April Reed Cake Design, visit aprilreed.com.

—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor

This week we're featuring Sarah and Jeff's simple and chic October nuptials. Sara is actually the brains behind one of our favorite blogs, Classic Bride (classicbride.blogspot.com). Aside from her incredible bridal style, we're also loving her cake display and the adorable salt water taffy favors. Congrats, Sara and Jeff!

All photos courtesy of Look Photography.

Worried your wedding dress will just gather dust in the closet after the big day is over? Don't! Bridal designer Morgan Boszilkov created her convertible (and eco-friendly!) wedding gown collection with you in mind. Boszilkov's Natural Bridal line (naturalbridal.com) features gorgeous dresses that literally go from full-length to short in a matter of minutes (think Charlize Theron's gray, ruffled Dior dress at Salma Hayek's wedding). The Janine, for example, starts off as a stunning drop-waist gown with a tiered skirt, but transforms into a flirty, knee-length sheath with a flounced hem. Kathleen is another convertible option that's also beautiful both ways. 

It's also worth mentioning that the gowns are made from environmentally-friendly hemp, silk and bamboo. And as if that weren't eco-chic enough, Boszilkov donates 5% of the profits from each dress to Conservation International. 

Boszilkov is already hard at work on her next collection, which will feature heavily-detailed busts, handmade flowers, organic lace, and Swarovski Crystal beading. Can’t wait? Browse her current collection now at naturalbridal.com.

—Chrissy Mahlmeister