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
October 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM
A sophisticated beverage sipper likes her wines old and her gadgetry new. That’s why we adore the modern and innovative line of accessories from L’Atellier du Vin (atelierduvin.com).
Consider this website the one-stop registry shop for the bride who truly has everything, because no oenophile should be without a Gard’Bulles (a handy cork that keeps your sparkling wines bubbly) or a Wine Partner to measure your beverage consumption upon each pour of the bottle.
Our favorite discovery, however, is the newest edition to the line. The Chic Lady ($53) is a sleek corkscrew that comes in fashionable pink, nude or ink. Brides will adore the modern design, but appreciate it more when opening bottles with ease. Now, that’s something we can all raise a glass to.
—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant
September 16, 2009 at 3:30 PM
It's easy to get your bridesmaids just any ol' gift, but what about something they’ll actually use? Save those fancy milled soaps for grandma and opt for ChicBuds (chicbuds.com), an
amazing line of headphones and accessories decorated with Swarovski
crystals.
Available in five colors (shown here, watermelon), they retail for just $49. And not only are these earbuds stylish, they're extremely functional with built-in a retractor. The retractor allows the
cord to expand and retract to five stopping points while the clip
prevents cords from bouncing around. Plus, it’ll keep tangles at bay when
your girls are not jamming out to their favorite tunes.
Oh, and don’t forget your flower girl! ChicBuds makes an exclusive juniors
line for the pint-size set. The smaller earbuds and lightweight handling
are just the right size.
Visit chicbuds.com to shop the entire collection.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
September 9, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Did you know that cacao beans were originally used as currency by Native
Americans? Neither did we, but we do know that chocolate makes a great
wedding favor. One of our new favorite brands is Taza chocolate. The chocolate is obviously delicious, but company's cool packaging makes it an even better parting gift.
Take our word for it, Taza Chocolate is a far cry from a Wonka bar—it’s stone ground in the
traditional manner of Central and South America and is minimally processed
to preserve the natural flavors of the cacao bean. Because it has such a
unique flavor, here are a few tips to best taste Taza chocolate:
Cleanse your palette. Coffee, tobacco, food and alcohol will only hinder
your ability to discern the subtle flavors of your chocolate, so stay away from them before indulging in Taza.
Take a whiff. Bring your face close to the chocolate and inhale. Mmmm.
Time to taste. Let the chocolate melt in your mouth, swirling it
around. Notice the texture: unrefined cacao particles and sugar granules pop
with intense nutty and citrusy flavors.
The chocolate coins, which come in flavors like
Cinnamon, Guadjillo Chile and Vanilla, are our current favorites from the Taza collection. They’d look great scattered around on
a table post-dessert or variably stacked on the escort table.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
August 20, 2009 at 3:00 PM
We were totally inspired by the oh-so-chic gift baskets E! star Kendra Wilkinson gave her maids back in June before her fairytale wedding at the Playboy Mansion. Wilkinson worked the staff at whatshebuys.com to create custom baskets for her girls, which included white eyelet Uggs, a Lodis wallet
and a Longchamp bag among other things. “It was important to me
that my bridesmaids felt special and I wanted them to know how much I appreciated them during the planning process," she says. "The gift baskets I created were
made with the best items I knew my girls would love.”
While Wilkinson's exact package isn't available for purchase on the site, you can steal the idea and customize baskets for your
bridesmaids and his groomsmen with items specially picked for them. The site is like a well-edited boutique, so you know your wedding party will be getting the best.
Click here to shop now or, if you're in Cali, visit their retail store in the Old Mission District in San Gabriel!
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
August 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Like any well-read bride knows, pulling inspiration from the beautiful things around you is the best way to plan a wedding. The founders of shopparcel.com must have taken a page from our bridal handbook when brainstorming their incredible site because it perfectly conveys all the things that inspire them (check out the "inspiration" tab).
Shopparcel.com features an array of wedding-related items like custom stationery, one-of-a-kind garlands and wedding favors, but the real stars are their gift baskets. Designed to work with a themed affair—think garden or even fairy wonderland—the baskets come hand-stocked with everything from candy to trinkets. Why not do a fun take on the welcome bag tradition and give your out-of-town guests with a bag full of international sweets? Just don’t be surprised when they show up to your rehearsal dinner already full.
Their customizable charm jewelry is also worth mentioning. It has that just-right rustic feel. We love the idea of giving your bridesmaids imprinted charm necklaces as a personalized thank you gift.
Click here to shop the entire Parcel collection.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
July 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM
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
July 8, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Hot on the heels of Leslie Greene's new bridal line (check it out here), we're thrilled to share more great jewelry news. Sarah Chloe just released her premier collection of stylish pendants and charms, which start at just $19!
The best thing about Sarah Chloe is the vast array of style options offered. We're talking gold charm jewelry, key chain charms and handbag
charms in sterling silver, gold vermeil, and 14 kt gold. There's something for everyone!
The pendants make especially sweet bridesmaid gifts. Why not give each of your bridesmaids their
first initial, or add a diamond to your maid of honor’s pendant? You could also get the girls HOPE charm necklaces, and 50% of the profits will be donated to TIKVA, a
charity that builds orphanages in the Ukraine. The more you get the better, because these necklaces look even better layered together.
For more info or to view the entire collection, go to sarahchloe.com.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
May 28, 2009 at 11:15 AM
NavyandLavender.com is one of my absolute favorite gift sites. They have the prettiest gift kits, including a men’s grooming set (a pre-wedding day must) and a Girl’s Night Out Kit stocked with bachelorette party essentials.
The site recently added a variety of wedding-day favors to its list of perfectly packaged offerings. Having a summer affair? Check out the flip-flop luggage tags, which are great for weekend getaways or for a destination wedding. Looking to green? Give guests personalized favor cards made from plantable paper so they can start a wildflower garden.
If you really want to go all out with favors or even use them as a centerpiece accent, look no further than the favor cake. It comes beautifully wrapped in paper to match your wedding palette and can feature any favor from the site. Don't see anything you like? Contact N&L directly and they’ll create a custom favors to complete your cake.
Visit navyandlavender.com for more info and to start shopping.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
April 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Seda France (sedafrance.com) is known for its super-luxurious candles. Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman loved them so much, they gave them out as favors at their wedding in November 2005. Capitalizing on that popularity, Seda France now offers their sweetly-scented candles in personalized boxes. Could there be a more perfect gift for your attendants?
Every order is custom created to your likings, from the imprint on the box to the ribbon color. You also get to choose between paraffin or soy wax candles—great couples having a “green” affair. Best of all, of course, are the fragrances. My pick? Gardenia bouquet, which features notes of jasmine, peach, lily, grape and musk.
To order your own 10 oz. candles or for more information, visit sedafrance.com/bridal or call at 1-800-474-0854.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
