StyleSchool

The only thing better than wedding cake is leftover wedding cake! And since you can’t send every guest home with an extra slice of cake, satisfy them with petits fours from Valerie Confections’ (valerieconfections.com). These refined bites are delicious, compact servings of cake that make ideal wedding takeaways!

For a fabulous favor, we love the colorful yellow and purple pansy four-pack ($16). Decadent flavor combos include ginger cake layered with white chocolate ganache and topped with bittersweet chocolate glaze or vanilla bean and candied rose petal petits fours. 

Be sure to set aside a pack for yourself, as well. These treats keep well so you can save a square to enjoy on your one-year anniversary. It will take up less room in your freezer than the top tier of a cake, but taste just as delicious.

—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant

If your idea of starting the weekend off right involves an outdoor tea party and some stunning metallic shoes, then you’re in luck. Read on for the goods.

—Jessica Derschowitz

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Heather Wiese Alexander, founder of Bell'Invito (bellinvito.com), and seeing her incredible letterpress work in person. All I can say is, amazing! Heather used to the art director at Neiman Marcus, so it goes without saying that her style is impeccable. It's really no surprise that her stationery—from the paper to the printing—is right up there with best a bride can get. Read on for more about Bell'Invito and her insider tips.

What's your best advice for the recently engaged entering the world of wedding stationery?
Enjoy the experience! Your stationery and invitations are the first impression you give of the style of your wedding and your style as a couple. Choose a stationer you feel confident with and let the magic begin. And be sure you have plenty of stationery for thank you notes!

What's been your favorite design so far and why?
I love styling invitations for brides who letterpress calligraphy on their invitations. It is such a personal expression of a classic tradition with a modern twist. It is unexpected and has the richness of true couture styling.

What's your best stationery cost-cutting tip that doesn't sacrifice style?
Order everything up front from your stationer. A smart stationer will be able to help you coordinate your designs into all the collateral you’ll need to set the tone for the entire wedding, from the correspondence to the event, and following. If you’re using letterpress or engraving, you should be able to save significantly by submitting your order all at once, with different due dates, according to when you need things.

What makes Bell’Invito different from other stationery companies?
It’s the combination of several things that sets us apart. We start with the best foundations of Italian cotton papers, and silk-screen envelope liners if the bride so chooses. Our designers have extensive art training, as opposed to only software knowledge, so the design is simple, clean, fresh, and above all, completely tailored to our client’s wishes. Of course, the actual process of hand feeding presses and hand assembly ensures the highest quality of each invitation. Each designer and sales associate is trained in customer service and etiquette. The overall Bell’Invito experience is something we pride ourselves on.

What's your biggest wedding stationery no-no?
Never mix formalities. If your wedding is formal, use an enveloped reply card. If your event is informal, use appropriate wording for the invitation. There is a fine line between having your own style and trying to rewrite etiquette. Choose a stationer who understands your style and can help guide you through the process. After all, it’s our job to make the best first impression of your event.

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dotolo

As indicated in the blog title, this week we're taking a slight departure from our weekly wedding feature and showcasing an amazing event instead. Amy Atlas (amyatlas.blogspot.com) is an incredibly talented N.Y.C.-based event planner who designs the most delightful dessert bars. This past weekend, she did a Moroccan-inspired spread for Sunday Suppers (sunday-suppers.blogspot.com) in blue, white and orange and it's so visually stunning. The palette is summery, yet chic and everything looks absolutely delicious. Check it out!

Click here for more info about Amy.

Photos courtesy of Karen Mordechai and Aran Goyoaga.

    

    

    

If you’ve been searching for the perfect lipstick shade to wear on your wedding day, Maybelline is here to help! This Thursday July 30th, Maybelline is giving free lip consultations in New York City with the cast of Broadway’s Chicago.

Professional makeup artists like Chuck Hezekiah will be at Grand Central Terminal helping brides-to-be (and let’s face it, women everywhere!) cross one thing off their bridal beauty to-do list: finding a flattering lip color from Maybelline’s brand new Color Sensational line. The lip color collection features 48 rich shades, so no matter what your skin tone, lip tone or preference, there's a perfect hue for you.

Maybelline’s “Sensational” free lip color consultations will be held at Rite-Aid in Grand Central Station at the following times: 8-10 a.m., 12-2 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. After your makeover, head over to the 42nd Street entrance to enjoy a live musical performance by the cast of Chicago at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. and your chance to win a pair of free tickets to see it on Broadway. Maybelline is also be giving away tons of coupons for its Color Sensational line, so mark your calendars for this Thursday!

—Christa Lee

Often, fruity cocktails and wedding preparations (namely, white dress workouts) don’t mix, but we’ve found one that’s not a recipe for disaster: Function (functiondrinks.com).

Guzzle these invigorating drinks to ready for your walk down the aisle—really! There’s an all-natural physician-formulated potion to cure whatever’s ailing you:

- Alternative Energy is packed with rainforest-grown powerhouses like Catuaba and Guarana to get you through those last stress-filled days before the wedding. 

- Ward of a cold before your big day with House Call—it’s packed with vitamins (your immune system will thank you!). 

- Our personal favorite, Light Weight, is a metabolism-boosting calorie-burning sip.  

You’ll almost feel guilty indulging in tasty flavors like acai pomegranate and peach mango, but with five calories per serving, you’ll still be able to enjoy a slice of wedding cake (or two!).

—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant

Happy Friday! Read on for our favorite finds from this week, including vintage inspiration and a creative reception.

—Jessica Derschowitz

Photo courtesy of Gertrude & Mabel Photography

By now, you've probably already seen Jill and Kevin's wedding processional, but we just had to share for anyone who hasn't. Instead of something traditional, this Minnesota couple got their wedding party to dance (and we mean, dance) down the aisle. The bride and groom even joined in! You can tell everyone had a blast, even the wedding guests who were clapping and dancing in their seats midway through. We give major kudos to this couple for taking personalization to the next level. It will definitely be something they're able to look back on in 10 or 20 years and smile about. Love it!

You may recognize the bride in this week's featured wedding. She's actress Victoria Rowell of Young and the Restless fame. She recently married visual artist Radcliffe Bailey in Dublin, New Hampshire. After exchanging vows at the Dublin Community Church, the couple celebrated their nuptials with 200 guests on the lawn of a private estate. 

Despite the guest list, we love the intimate vibe of the whole affair. Plus, check out Rowell's custom gown made by British designer Jane Wilson-Marquis.

Click here to view the full wedding album on Essence.com.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive but awesome gift for the guys, think about what every guy loves: grilling. With the summer in full swing, baseball games on wherever you look and football season right around the corner, help them tailgate at the stadium—no cleanup required. 

The Original EZ Grill (ezgrill.com) offers that charcoal grilled taste everyone loves with the light of just one match. After getting it started, the boys will have a full ninety minutes to grill up burgers, dogs and whatever else they choose. 

Regular size grills are $4.99 and the party size is only $9.99, so you can afford to get one for all the men in your wedding party. Plus, there's a chance you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor