November 20, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Though rye whiskey’s often considered a masculine drink, (ri)1 is redefining the traditional spirit. The perfect base for feminine, flirty cocktails, (ri)1—pronounced “rye one”— boasts light, spicy flavors and a sleek, elongated bottle. Make this stylish beverage the centerpiece of your wedding with delicious sips like the Gold Standard, created by Christy Pope and Chad Solomon, whose resumes include hotspots like N.Y.C.’s Milk & Honey and Little Branch.
(rī)1 Gold Standard
1 part (rī)1
½ part freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ part house-made clover honey syrup
2 parts Brut Champagne
In a mixing tin, add spirit, juice and syrup. Fill tin with ice and shake vigorously for 6 seconds. Strain into a flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
-Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant
November 20, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Welcome back to our roundup of the best of the blogs. For your
inspiration and enjoyment this weekend, we bring you candlelit décor
and a few ways to dress up your escort cards.
For a vintage touch, consider using antique skeleton keys to accent your escort
cards. Head over to Classic Bride to see a picture.
There are lots of other creative ways to make your escort cards a little more playful.
Michelle Rago has some great ideas, including leaning the cards against vibrant green
apples or layering sea shells below them.
Wedding Planner Blog presented some
gorgeous headbands that would make a bold, colorful statement at a
rehearsal dinner.
We found this beautiful Beverly Hills wedding on The Cinderella
Project.
Hundreds of candles were spaced throughout the table decorations. The result is quite stunning.
Finally, one always has to hope for good weather when planning an
outdoor ceremony. But when clouds rolled in during this affair we
found on Elizabeth Anne Designs the couple made the best of it, kissed in the rain, and still came
away with a lovely wedding.
—Jessica Derschowitz
Photo courtesy of Grise Photography
November 19, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Etsy.com, the online international marketplace to buy and sell handmade items, has so many inspiring treasures for wedding planning. The question isn’t whether you should go, but rather, where do you begin? With hundreds of handmade invitations, vintage inspired jewels and gifts, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t fret, busy brides! Allow us to welcome you to the Etsy Find of the Week! We’ll do the legwork and find all the greatest items on Etsy for your wedding, so all you have to do is follow our lead (and links) to some inspired wedding day goodies.
This week we’re kicking off the fun with these adorable handmade and custom painted lovebird cake toppers from Little Vale in Singapore! These little clay birds are a great alternative to a traditional bride and groom cake topper and add rustic charm to any wedding cake.
The birds can be painted in any color and will even have your initials and wedding date etched into the bottom to serve as lifelong mementos of your day. Because they don’t look like traditional toppers, they can blend right into your home décor and add flair to a bathroom table or bookshelf. They are only $45 and will arrive within 7-10 days of placing your order. Click here for ordering information, and stay tuned for more Etsy finds!
— Darcy Newell
November 18, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Picking dresses that please and flatter all your bridesmaids is nearly impossible. Fortunately, though, designer Lynn Lugo is taking the guesswork out of the bridesmaid dress hunt. She recently added an amazing feature to her Web site that allows you (or your maids) to create custom dresses!
The custom dressmaker has over 50 dress silhouettes to choose from that can be customized in color and fabric. You can pick a classic silhouette, then let your girls choose tones of the same color. Or, you decide on the color and have your maids order the silhouette that best flatters their specific body type. There’s a convenient email feature that lets you and your maids send your designs around for approval. What’s more is that even your mother and future mother-in-law can join in on the fun. In addition to the dress styles, Lynn Lugo also has gorgeous jacket, skirt and pant combinations in the same materials and colors as the dresses.
Once everyone’s decided on their design, just head to one of the dozens of bridal boutiques around the country that carries Lynn Lugo to place your order. Visit lynnlugo.com to find a retailer near you and to design the dresses of your dreams in just a few clicks!
—Darcy Newell
November 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM
![CosBarInterior2a[1]](http://styleschool.typepad.com/.a/6a00e551d1e0888834012875adf025970c-800wi "CosBarInterior2a[1]")
Not sure what beauty products are must-haves on your honeymoon? Mark your calendar for COS BAR of El Paseo’s “Travel in Beauty, Travel in Style”event this Thursday at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, California. The 60-minute seminar, hosted by El Paseo’s beauty expert manager Sydney Rucker, promises to teach women about the most essential beauty products while traveling and how to pack them!
COS BAR carries a selective lineup of beauty, body and skincare brands like Chanel, La Mer and Frederic Fekkai. They also have underground favorites, like Sisley, Cle de Peau and Kanebo.
To reserve your spot at the “Travel in Beauty, Travel in Style,” call COS BAR of El Paseo at 760-341-6699.
If you can’t make this week’s event, don’t despair: COS BAR locations offer multiple classes and fun beauty events every month that members can register for only $69. For more information on COS BAR events, products and its other locations, visit cosbar.com.
–Christa Joanna Lee
November 16, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Love jewelry designer Leslie Greene’s elegant and timeless designs, but don’t live near one of her boutiques? You’re in luck! The award-winning jeweler just added e-commerce to her Web site, which means brides across the country can shop her exquisite collections!
With a seemingly endless variety of styles, stones and metals, Greene has something for every bride-to-be. Be sure to peruse the Couture collection of diamonds and gemstones, which are all set set in18-karat gold, and the newly added Sterling collection, which features the same design aesthetic at a more affordable price. Of course, the Bridal Collection is also a must-see: it features an array of pieces crafted with a stylish bride in mind.
To view all of the collections, learn more about Greene’s work and see the gallery of celebrities who have donned her gems, visit lesliegreene.com.
—Darcy Newell
November 13, 2009 at 3:30 PM
A quick quiz for brides creating welcome baskets. What do your out-of-town guests want to see when they enter their hotel rooms?: a) A locked mini-bar B) Granola bars and raisins C) Gourmet fresh-baked cookies.
The answer’s obvious. Distribute gift boxes of Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies (heidisheavenlycookies.com) amongst hotel rooms and you’ll have happy, well-fed wedding guests. These decorative boxes are filled with decadent cookies in flavors like “raspberry eclipse” and “coconut macaroon.” “Rocky road,” is sure to delight a true chocolate lover. Creating the perfect welcome basket is a task best left the professionals; let Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies do the work for you.
—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant
November 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Welcome back to our weekly roundup of the best of the wedding blogs. For your
enjoyment this Friday we bring you homemade favors and a wedding gone
wild (but in the most elegant way). Read on for the goods.
Bakers twine (that red and white striped string) is utilitarian when wrapped around a box of cookies, but when used on invitations or
save the dates, like we saw on Elizabeth Anne Designs,
it's very pretty.
“Bride” Ideas had several stunning examples of the different ways to use a damask in
your wedding décor.
Most engagement shoots we find have couples posed in different
photogenic locales, but the couple in this shoot on Polka Dot Bride took a different approach—the pictures were taken while they baked a
cake together.
Style Me Pretty showed
off a cute way to incorporate DIY—making homemade mini-pies and
giving them out as (delicious) reception favors. Head over there for
pictures and the super-easy recipe.
Finally, there was so much we enjoyed about this wedding at New York’s
Central Park Zoo from Mr. Boddington's Studio. There’s the bold black,
pink and green color palette, the varied heights of the animal-printed
seating cards, the beautiful ceremony locale and the bride’s gorgeous
dress.
—Jessica Derschowitz
Photo courtesy of Mr. Boddington's Studio
November 12, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Looking for an eclectic mix of gifts for your wedding party? Look o further than home
accessories boutique Henry Road (henryroad.com). Their unique mix of products ensures you'll find something special for everyone on your list.
Some of our fave finds include vintage inspired candlesticks and throw pillows. The one shown here is actually a sneak peek—it won't be out until January 2010. We also love their adorable teddy bears, which are the perfect present for
your flower girls.
If you live in the L.A.-area, make sure to stop by their boutique at 3949
Laurelgrove Ave in Studio City where they carry one-of-a-kind chandeliers
and lamps starting at $175—ideal for the décor-obsessed maid of honor (or
maybe for your new home!).
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
November 11, 2009 at 11:00 AM
If you blew your budget going all out for your wedding day, but still need a few essentials for your honeymoon, you're in luck! We're partnering with Shop.com to give one lucky couple the honeymoon shopping spree of their dreams.
Send your smartest wedding shopping strategy to weddings@instylemag.com and you could win a $1,000 shopping spree on Shop.com!
It's no secret that Shop.com is an online shopping mecca. They literally have everything you could ever possibly need for your postwedding getaway, all just a few clicks away. New swimsuits? Over 500 of them! Underwater camera? They have the 10 top brands! Sexy lingerie? Your trousseau will be stocked!
Click here to browse some of Shop.com's incredible inventory!
Click here for official contest rules.
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
