by Stephanie Sturino

Saja, the ultimate in ethereal and beautifully simplistic wedding gowns, has made its way across the border and into the hands of boutique owner Cynthia Martyn (Sash & Bustle). The effortlessly elegant Spring 2010 collection from New York designer Yoo Lee has made a lasting impact on the non-traditional gown, and is now at the fingertips of Toronto brides-to-be. “Charming, dreamy and romantic,” describes Cynthia, who fell hopelessly in love with the small collection and is proud to say that she is its exclusive retailer in Toronto.

Saja offers an 8-dress collection of soft, airy fabrics, sweet details and simple, elegant silhouettes. Sash & Bustle has six of the eight dresses for now, and is expecting the other designs soon. The collection is getting a great reaction and a number of the dresses have been selected by brides who are planning a local-destination wedding in Picton, an upcoming hot-spot within beautiful Prince Edward County.

Constructed from 100% natural fabrics; most of the styles are made from a warm ivory crinkle-sheer silk organza, which gives the gowns their airiness and ease.  That effortless look and flow makes the Saja gowns ideal for warm weather destination brides who are looking for a simple bridal alternative. The gowns fall slightly away from the body, making them comfortable in hot weather, but also forgiving and flattering to most body types. The fabric also lends itself to travelling well, as it folds with ease and only needs a quick steaming on the day of the wedding.

A part of the collection’s airy beauty is its light price tag. All the gowns in the collection are less than $1,500, making it a lot easier to snag that perfect dress!

Notes: All images courtesy of Saja where the whole collection is available for viewing, including their gorgeous bridesmaid dresses which aren’t available in Canada yet, also check out Sash & Bustle

Destination weddings can be hectic to plan, and the last thing any bride wants to overlook are the details involved with finding the wedding gown that’s right for her and her destination. Here are 5 items to consider to stay stress-free and looking beautiful from the first fitting to the last dance:

By Stephanie Sturino

Fabric: Though it depends on the destination, most weddings take place in warm weather climates where fabric choice is critical. First, avoid heavy fabrics like satin and synthetic materials such as polyester, they don’t breathe well and will leave you sweaty and uncomfortable. Fabrics like silk charmeuse, organza, chiffon and lightweight silk satins and laces will keep you more comfortable.

Style: As always, make sure your dress complements your location. Typically, destination wedding attire is more casual, however a destination gown can still be as formal, or as casual as you like, as long as it matches the atmosphere.

Shape: A large volume gown can be a hassle when it comes to comfort and logistics when travelling. Simpler shapes such as A-line, sheath, empire or mermaid silhouettes are great options.

Travel: A gown that can be folded without being excessively wrinkled and isn’t too heavy or bulky is the key. Contact the airline about what they can offer you when it comes to bringing the dress on the plane as a carry-on or being able to hang it up.  Or consider sending the dress via courier ahead of time. Be sure to ask the boutique where you bought the dress for advice on packing it.

Maintenance: Ideally, you want a dress that requires little maintenance, that’s when the right fabric is crucial. However, steaming might be avoidable. Contact the hotel or a reliable local cleaner and ask if they can press or steam your dress or see if you can steam it yourself.

Notes: Tips gathered with guidance from the following sources: The Wedding Book by Mindy Weiss and Lisbeth Levine; Wedding Etiquette by Peggy Post, and photo courtesy of Saja

Donning a going-away outfit is a classic wardrobe change that is making its way back into popularity.

By Stephanie Sturino

Traditionally, a new husband and wife made their grand exit adorned in their (usually coordinated) “honeymoon” outfits, she in a light coloured skirt suit, hat and pumps and he into slacks and a jacket. Despite having been more popular over the years, the trend has never disappeared entirely and seems to be more noticeable of late.

Now, with a shift towards making some kind of outfit adjustment during the wedding day, the going-away outfit is a great option for those wanting to make their grand exit. Today’s going-away outfit is evolved, combining the charm of the past with modern fashion and flare.

The outfit itself can go one of two ways. For a vintage-inspired traditionalism, channel Jackie O in an enduring neutral skirt suit with vibrant silk scarf and matching pumps, or try a full skirt or hip-hugging sheath dress, matched with a caplet jacket and double-strand pearls. If you want to go all the way, find a vintage hat that suits your outfit.

Alternatively, for a trendy edge, use modern trends like the blazer paired with a high-waisted or mini skirt. The trench coat is also a great traditional item to pair with a modern bubble skirt. Don’t be afraid of colour, and experiment with accessories like a trendy flat or a bold hairpiece to pull the look together.

In the end, there are no longer any rules that need to be followed when taking part in this classic “change,” it’s a fun throwback that adds a bit of flare to the end of the night.

Sources:

top image: via Pineapple Post, middle: via  Fashion Era

bottom right to left: Giambattista Valli resort 2010, Anthropologie Double Ruffle Trench $198, Lela Rose Resort 2010

It’s a hot trend right now, changing from the customary white dress and subtle bridal jewellery for a portion of the wedding day. A bride’s dress change is not so much a new thing, the difference is that today’s trend is rooted in fashion and the focus is on personal style, rather than on custom.

By Stephanie Sturino

The biggest impact of this ‘changing’ trend is the introduction of the reception dress, it’s an outlet to show off your personality as a bride, and have some fun. A popular choice is known as the Little White Dress. Dress designers have been making shorter wedding dresses for years, but they are only now entering the mainstream — and in a big way. The Little White Dress can be anything from a sexy satin slip to a full-skirt lace dress, a super-sexy mini to vintage tea-length frock; it is whatever you want it to be.

For those who are a little more daring, colour is where it’s at! Whether you’re talking reception only or the entire wedding day, colour can make an enormous impact.  And your options are endless. Change into a short, bright dress or keep it long in a dramatic colour: Forget princess, who doesn’t want to look like a red-carpet goddess?

The key to a successful change? Make sure you’re meticulous about planning: Best advice – if you can, don’t change your undergarments, it makes it a lot quicker and less stressful (especially if you forget something). Also, schedule a change time, that way you’re not rushed. Planner Cynthia Martyn (Cynthia Martyn Events) suggests: “wait until after the first dance which normally occurs soon after dessert…  It is perfect timing as typically, you would want to free yourself of a heavy dress and cumbersome bustle and then dance in a slinky little white dress … until the wee hours!” If you have a wedding planner, ask them to assist you with timing and have the garments and accessories laid out for you.

Not only will a reception dress make you feel like the life of the party, it can indicate a chance in the atmosphere, and guests will know it’s time to celebrate. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it!

Tomorrow — the going-away outfit … what goes around comes around, as they say: this ‘classic change’ has evolved to accommodate modern wedding celebrations. Stay tuned!

Picture Credits:

top right: via Style Me Pretty, top left: from the 2010 Marchesa Resort collection

middle right: Trish from Priscilla of Boston’s reception collection, middle left: via Frolic

bottom: Ouma’s “Blushing in Pink” dress by Galaxie Andrews

Christos' Desiree from the spring 2010 collection: Pearl Bridal House will host a Christos trunk show, February 27th.

With your valentines sent and received, and your first true love secure, you’ve got the time and energy to put into finding that other love of your life … your wedding dress.

Lucky for you, it’s this time of year when a lot of new collections are arriving in stores — those divine creations you’ve seen pictures of in the magazines over the last six months are finally on the rack and your local boutiques are excited to make some matches.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a trunk show used to refer to the travelling trunks designers used transport and display new designs. Buyers would dig through the trunks to find merchandise to order for the coming season.

Today, a trunk show is a civilized, service-oriented event; boutiques use the launch of new collections to provide their customers with a one-time opportunity to see an entire line from one designer. While a retailer might represent the Vera Wang bridesmaid line, they will never carry the entire collection for that season. Instead, they will pick and choose up to half the dresses available that they think will perform the best at their store. Trunk shows are held to offer clientel the entire collection for one or two days. Customers are encouraged to make appointments prior to a trunk show, because either a representative of, or the designer will be on-hand to help fit and discuss the range of merchandise available — a little like speed dating.

Andria Anastasiou of White, Toronto says designers will also often bring pieces that have been well received from previous seasons as well, this is another coup for brides who want something slightly different than what will become typically popular throughout the coming season.

Usually, when you attend a trunk show, you have up to one week after to order any item not stocked by the boutique directly from the designer. Boutiques often offer a slight discount when you place an order as a result of the trunk show.

Start your engines … and be prepared for love at first sight.

Midnight Stroll dress, Sarah Seven, $1,000

From fun and flirty, to sophisticated and sexy, brides are making bridal fashion their own. The days of one white gown are slipping away as brides let loose for their receptions and step up their outfits to get the party started.

By Stephanie Sturino

Though the trend is everywhere — like Vera Wang’s citrus-hued “Didi” dress for spring 2010, Priscilla of Boston’s line for “the modern bride” of flirty short reception dresses and even The Wedding Co.’s 2010 Show image of the fantastic pink tea-length vintage wedding dress — changing out the traditional white dress for all or part of a wedding day is not for every bride. For those who feel a little squeamish about the statement of a pink dress, don’t fret, there are tons of things you can change-up throughout your day. For starters, bridal hair pieces have become the greatest bridal accessory.

If a veil is a must-have accessory for the ceremony, change it to a stylish hair-band, fascinator or pin for the reception to give a more relaxed, party-inspired look. The ever-popular birdcage veil is another great option, as a majority of them fold away out of the face, or detach from the accompanying fascinator. Incorporate a little colour, maybe a more dramatic look with a coloured feather (think SJP in the Sex and the City movie) or a soft-hued flower or bow for a romantic look.

Jennifer Behr's Esther, $228 and Ban.do's Haute Couture, $300

To pull off a more transformed look without a dress change, play with your hairstyle. During consultations with your hairdresser, mention the idea and find out what they think works best, and what is easiest for your hair type. Incorporate a new hairpiece, or just let it loose and add a vintage-inspired pin for a more relaxed and natural look. This change can be a tricky one; the best advice is not going over the top unless you have a professional on hand for the change. Something like going from an up-do to half-up style can be easy with the release of a few bobby-pins, but definitely try it out a couple times — this is when the consultations with a professional are key!

If you’re looking for a more drastic change think colour and the LWD – that is the “Little White Dress”! More tomorrow…

Net-a-Porter.com gets a wedding boutique and it’s chockablock with gorgeous finds.

‘Maids to mothers: the online ready to wear designer boutique, Net-a-Porter.com, has just unveiled an entire collection of clothes, shoes and accessories for those on the hunt for something fab to wear down the aisle. Whether it’s your wedding or not, we think you’ll find a generous handful of drool-worthy items on their wedding boutique pages and in their wedding magazine. For brides, the collection is broken down into classic, minimalist, bohemian, and fashion forward to get you started.

Speaking of launches, Lanvin Blanche has also officially launched and oh boy, it’s not for the faint of heart: think t-shirts and translucent tiered skirts. The Lanvin bridal collection is: “for a bride who does not think of herself as a Cinderella” designer Alber Elbaz was quoted as saying on the boutique’s site.

Pictured here, courtesy of Net-A-Porter.com, are Lanvin’s Bridal Illustrated Notebook, $30 and Tiered silk-gazer dress, $4,960.

More of the dresses at Indie Wed … we loved the range we saw and while a trip to Chicago to try a dress or two might not be all that practical, we hope these vintage-inspired and fun creations get your imagination working on finding something a little more than ordinary for your own wedding gown, hair and accessories.

I especially like one dress from Dame Couture in which the train is lined with a gorgeous striped fabric that peaks out along the bride’s waist at the back where the train meets the gown in a series of pleats and also when the bride is walking and the fabric billows out behind her. For all the designers who participated in Indie Wed, check their vendor’s page.

Photography: All black and white images, plus the picture of the MC are courtesy of Mary Kate McKenna Photography, the rest are by our Catherine Lash.

Imagine your bridesmaids in gorgeous Deco-inspired bling at your wedding.

Love this post from Shiny Happy Weddings via Lucky Magazine.

Affianced Gloves, $94.40CDN

Wear them when you’re too chilly to show off what’s underneath OR to hint about something that should be.

I remember my grandmother telling me when I was little that the last thing a lady puts on before she leaves the house are her gloves. Gloves were a very important accessory, and so they remain, but a standard pair may pull the wool over your bling. If you’re engaged and want to show it, don’t leave home without your Affianced Gloves, another brilliant accessory from {where else but} Anthropologie.