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June 17, 2013

One Dress, Six Ways: Our Bridal Accessories Video

Boho brides, classic brides, retro brides, rustic brides, romantic brides, glam brides: we have a wedding dress for you. All of you. Trust us! The ‘Elizabeth’ gown by Caroline DeVillo is simply stunning, but the best part is that it’s a sleek, flattering blank canvas for one of our favorite things: accessorizing!

Watch the video to see how one dress can be transformed into six distinct styles with the right jewelry, shoes and other accessories. We hope you’re inspired to find your own unique style!

Now take a peek behind the scenes of the video, filmed in Seattle with our charismatic “bride” Anna and her lovely (and helpful!) ‘maids.

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To shop the accessories used in the video, view the lookbook experience. And don’t forget—our free Wedding Stylists can help you with your head-to-toe look at one of our 18 Wedding Suites.

That’s a wrap!

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June 17, 2013

Hang Out with Wedding Experts

Calling all brides-to-be: Ever wish you could get answers to all your questions from your favorite wedding experts, all in one place? You most definitely can! Come hang out with us and a panel of wedding industry professionals tomorrow, June 18, at 1 pm PST, at our second Google+ Hangout, hosted by HauteLook.

Bring all of your big planning, etiquette, and fashion questions to the event. You can also ask ahead of time on the HauteLook Google+ page. Our experts are happy to cover all wedding-related topics!

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We can’t wait to give you tips and ideas for your best day ever. Chat with you all tomorrow!

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June 14, 2013

Cheers to Dad!

This Sunday is Father’s Day, so we’ve put together a tribute to all the awesome dads out there (with a wedding-related twist, of course). While planning all the little details may not be most fathers’ forte, many men are excited to be very involved in the wedding. From traditions like walking the bride down the aisle to more modern roles like officiating the ceremony, dads can take a bit of the big day spotlight—as they well deserve!

Here’s a roundup of our favorite father-daughter wedding moments captured by SnapKnot photographers. Is it just us, or do these teary dads make you tear up a little yourself? We needed one really lighthearted photo in the mix, or else we’d have a full-on cry fest.

“At Christina and Dave’s wedding, only her father was there to see his little girl walk down the steps in her wedding dress. It was one of the most special “first look” moments between a dad and his daughter that I have ever witnessed! I’m so happy I was able to capture Dad’s expression of pure joy seeing his only daughter ready to get married!” —Vanessa Joy Photography

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8twenty8 Studios

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Ken Cravillion Photography

“This shot was taken right before the bride and her father walked out into the ceremony. There was a five-minute waiting period before the doors opened to let the bride and her father enjoy a special moment alone.” —8twenty8 Studios

Paired Images

“This shot is a fun reminder that it doesn’t always have to be a somber moment between a father and his daughter on the wedding day. Here are the bride and her father dancing to “Gangnam Style” by PSY. Even though the father of the bride had a broken foot, that did not stop him from having a great time!” —8twenty8 Studios

Whether it’s a toast to him, a small gift, playing his favorite song or just the traditional first dance, your wedding day provides many great opportunities to make Dad feel special and appreciated.

Need some inspiration? Check out our Father’s Day gift guide for ideas on gifts under $50 and the top 25 gifts.

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June 12, 2013

Real Wedding: Beth & Chad

Beth and Chad tell us the story of their destination wedding on a beautiful beach in Florida. 

The Scene: February 9, Casa Marina Hotel, Key West, Florida

Our first vacation together was in Key West.  For both Chad and me, it was around that time in our relationship where we knew that this person was “the one.”  It was only fitting that we would go back there to get married, and it felt natural to get married on the beach!

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Our venue was the Casa Marina Hotel, which is a Waldorf Astoria property. It was the perfect place for both our ceremony and reception. The ceremony was held at sunset on the beach, with our reception held in the ballroom and patio of the hotel.


My Look: The dress I picked was a classic Nouvelle Amsale trumpet gown, a Nordstrom exclusive. I love Amsale dresses because of the timeless look of them. I did not want to look back at my wedding pictures many years later and say, “Why did I pick that dress?” –and I won’t!

All of my accessories–from the Jimmy Choo shoes to the hair accessories–were also from Nordstrom. They had all of the items I could have possibly wanted.

My Wedding Stylist: Jackie Schwartz, Nordstrom Wedding Suite in King of Prussia, PA

I am originally from New Jersey and my family still lives up there, so I wanted my mother to be a part of the dress choosing process. After some research, I decided to look at the Nordstrom Wedding Suite in the King of Prussia mall. This was the first and only stop that I had to make to find my dress, as well as all of my accessories!

I can hardly say enough about my wedding stylist Jackie! She made the process of finding a dress so fun and enjoyable.  It was so easy to get all of my bridal needs accommodated in one location. Jackie even helped pick out my mother’s complete look for my wedding as well.

Our Special Moments: I am a physician, and one of my partners in our practice performed the ceremony. It was really special to have someone who actually knows both of us take on such an important role in our wedding.


Our vendors were also amazing. Our wedding photographers, Lacey Yantis and Aaron Blank, flew all the way from Seattle to photograph our wedding. I also cannot say enough about the staff, and our wedding coordinator, Reina, at the hotel. They made it such an amazing day for us as well as all of our guests!

Photography by: Visions of Romance Photography

Did you find your wedding gown at Nordstrom? We love a good wedding story! E-mail Nordstrom Wedding Stories for details about getting your wedding featured on our blog. And for more inspiration, make a complimentary appointment with a wedding stylist or browse our Wedding Suite.

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June 11, 2013

Racked.com Wedding Week Contest

It’s Weddings Week on shopping and style site Racked.com, and we’re joining in on the celebration! Racked is hosting a juicy contest where one lucky bride-to-be can win $3,000 toward her look for her big day from the Nordstrom Wedding Suite. Imagine the possibilities, starting with a dreamy wedding gown from one of our exclusive collections like Nouvelle Amsale or Roses by Reem Acra—or other amazing designers!

The contest prize also includes $1,000 toward Sole Society: think shoes, accessories and more for the honeymoon.

If you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle, first head over to Racked and enter the contest—plus check out all of the great wedding stories this week. You’ll find tips and advice, funny stories, photos of Lady Gaga in a bridesmaid dress and even more on our partnership with Etsy!

Good luck to all who enter!

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June 10, 2013

It’s Here! Etsy + Nordstrom Wedding Suite

We are bursting with excitement over this announcement! Drumroll please…the Nordstrom Wedding Suite is now partnering with Etsy to bring all you brides-to-be unique, handmade goodies for your wedding day!

Starting today, you can shop online for one-of-a-kind pieces from six Etsy shops: Whichgoose, Serephine, Paloma’s Nest, Sweet Sorrella Designs, Milk and Honey, and Anto Arts.  This curated collection includes several types of wedding-related pieces for the bride and beyond: veils and sashes; headbands and hair clips; flatware; mirrored compacts; and ring bearer trays.

You can also shop these products in five of our stores starting June 15: Downtown Seattle, Tysons Corner Center, Garden State Plaza, Houston Galleria and San Francisco Centre.

And this Saturday, four of these talented designers will be making personal appearances in selected stores to show their items. See more about each below!

Serephine wedding veils, headpieces and sashes are simple yet elegant. We love the vintage birdcage styles, floral accents and Gatsby-inspired circlets. You can meet artist Erin Brooks on June 15 between 12 and 2 pm at the Downtown Seattle Wedding Suite.

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Milk and Honey vintage flatware is etched with sweet sayings inspired by the romance of the French countryside. The forks and teaspoons are all so cute, we can’t even pick a favorite! You can meet artist Sarah Parker on June 15 between 12 and 2 pm at the Tysons Corner Center Wedding Suite.


Sweet Sorrella compacts make perfect bridesmaid gifts with their fun, monogrammed designs. We can never get enough of chevron, stripes and polka dots! You can meet artist Ivy Bertram on June 15 between 12 and 2 pm at the Houston Galleria Wedding Suite.


Paloma’s Nest ring bearer bowls feature wedding vow phrases on simple, modern dishes. They are perfect for passing through families as a special heirloom. You can meet artist Caroline Colom Vasquez on June 15 between 12 and 2 pm at the Garden State Plaza Wedding Suite.


Anto Arts cake toppers, napkin holders and toasting charms are crafted out of wire into swirling designs and words. We love the rustic elegance they add to any affair.

Whichgoose headbands and hair pieces are crafted from both natural and fabric elements. The floral pins are sweet and classic, and the ethereal wreaths are perfect for a woodland wedding.

Don’t forget to check out more Etsy products now available online and in a handful of our stores in our Etsy & Nordstrom Present Boutique! Unique items from Downing Pottery, CircaCeramics and Dock Artisan make great bridal shower or wedding gifts.

 

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June 6, 2013

Andrea’s Picks: Stationery from Wedding Paper Divas

This month, we’re thrilled to bring the expertise of our Bridal Director Andrea Wasserman to paper—wedding paper, that is! The Nordstrom Wedding Suite is partnering with Wedding Paper Divas to curate a collection of beautiful and unique wedding stationery (plus offer an extra treat for the brides-and-grooms-to-be).

So much more than just cards and envelopes, wedding stationery is one of the first ways a couple announces themselves and expresses their own style. It also sets the tone for their event, including the theme, colors, and formality. “We love stationery that reflects who they are as a couple—brilliant color, bold fonts, a chic design or a custom monogram,” says Andrea. Whatever your style, Wedding Paper Divas has premium, stylish stationery all designed by leading artists in the industry.


Whether you need save the dates, wedding invitations, thank-you cards or any other party invitations, Wedding Paper Divas provides personal service with every order. You can consult with an etiquette expert, and work with a designer to customize with different colors, fonts and text, making your invitations truly your own.


In stores at our 18 Wedding Suite locations, there are inspiration boards with samples of invitations from Wedding Paper Divas. “Seeing stationery options alongside the wedding attire completes the picture, helping couples achieve a cohesive look and feel for the entire event, from start to finish,” says Andrea.

You can shop Andrea’s Picks online at Wedding Paper Divas and see her selection of stationery in various styles and budgets. And oh, yes, the treat! Get 15% off with code NORDWPD15 from now through December 31, 2013. You can also get up to 10 samples free with code NORDWPD10F. Get shopping!

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June 5, 2013

Guest Post: SnapKnot’s Posing Tips

SnapKnot is back again with more great tips and tricks from professional photographers in their directory! Today’s tips are on how to pose for your engagement photo session. Necessary advice, right? With many, many photo shoots under their belts, these photographers have some good ideas to keep you looking natural and happy.

1. Bring along props.

Ideas: signs, pets, wedding rings, symbolic pieces of your setting (think carnival tickets, balloons, a car or boat).

“Bring along props that really reflect your fantastic personality. Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you individually or as a couple.” —Eugenio Williams, The Wedding Traveler


2. Try to control your expression…

“You don’t always have to smile. You don’t want a forced expression, so close your eyes and think back to when you first met. Relax and let your expression come naturally.” —Kristin Griffin Photography


3. …and your posture.

“Own it! Though most engaged couples aren’t professional models, you can fool your photographer by following a few foundational principles of posing: keep a straight back, relax your shoulders, bend slightly at the waist and lean toward the camera. And when you find yourself becoming stiff, shake it off and just bear-hug your partner!” —Phillip of Blume Photography

4. Practice posing in the mirror.

“I know it can be silly but when your photographer asks you to smile or give a serious face, you want to nail it! Look around on your photographer’s website to get a sense of their style, and then practice that type of posing. Always trust your photographer from behind the camera! Some poses feel crazy and weird but look amazing!” —Josh Fisher Photography


5. Just be yourself.

“Always remember to have fun and be yourself. Some of my favorite images are just of couples being ridiculous with each other, especially if they think I’m not watching. I’ll tell them I’m checking the light or something, then I can capture a few adorable images of them just being themselves.” —Leah Valentine Photography

For more tips on posing for your engagement photos, visit the SnapKnot blog. Now get out there and create some awesome pics!

Photo credit:  Glee and Bliss, Leah Valentine Photography, Nathan Moreau Photography and Josh Fisher Photography.

 

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May 31, 2013

Brideology: The Ceremony

Bride-to-be Cara shares the details of a big wedding milestone: writing the ceremony.

Writing blog posts is one thing…writing the ceremony that will bind you and your partner forever in front of all of your family and friends? A little different!

Even though it’s an intimidating task, we are crafting our own wedding ceremony, and it’s actually turned into a really good experience. We decided to have a family member officiate, so we’re drafting up what we want her to say and will fine-tune it together. Honestly, I love having control over what it will be like—no surprises!—but most of all, I like how it has forced us to take a break from planning the party, and focus on what the wedding is really about.

At first, we didn’t even know where to start. How do you just write a wedding ceremony?! What has to be in it?  Then one of my friends gave me about 25 examples of different types of wedding ceremonies (that she had received from her officiant)—a huge help!

We printed them all out and decided to make it into a date night, getting drinks at our neighborhood coffee shop and reading the ceremonies, highlighting what we liked.

Beer for him, giant hot cocoa for me!

From there, we pulled our favorite phrases, vows, readings and traditions into a Word doc and started to arrange it into sections. I felt like I was in high school learning how to write the 5-paragraph essay: intro, paragraph 1, bullets a, b, c, transition, concluding sentence…whenever I felt disorganized, I actually did start putting things into outline format!

It takes a TON of thought. How serious or funny should the ceremony be? How religious or agnostic? How emotional? How long?

When we asked ourselves these questions, we tried to answer from the perspective of what WE wanted, not just what we thought the audience would want. I have to admit I’ve seen a few ceremonies where the bride looks like she just can’t wait for it to be over, or the groom doesn’t think any of the jokes are funny. While it should be entertaining for the guests, the ceremony is, of course, for us: what words do we want to hear in that moment? What memories do we want to relive? What advice do we want to receive? Those are the things that will make it most meaningful to us, and I think our family and friends will recognize and appreciate that.

HeroCozy night: Writing and planning with a favorite wine.

After several nights of working on it (and with the help of a glass of wine here and there), we’re getting pretty close to being finished. It came down to a few simple themes: We feel so blessed and grateful to have each other; we are thankful for the support of our family and friends; and we’re just really, incredibly, super excited! I think it will feel great to communicate these things to each other and to our friends and family, and know that all the words we’re saying came from us.

Until next time,

Cara

P.S. Details on THE DRESS coming soon!

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May 30, 2013

Bridesmaid Look We Love: The Jenny Yoo ‘Cadie’

The Jenny Yoo ‘Cadie’ bridesmaid dress is one of those special styles that is truly versatile: It feels modern but classic, sophisticated but sweet at the same time. The pretty blue shantung fabric tapers into a sleek shape, and two sash panels at the waist can be tied into a bow in the front or back—a detail we love.

Here we styled ‘Cadie’ with gold-tone accents, bringing out the warm tones and subtle shimmer of the fabric. We chose bold statement earrings to draw the eye up, and a topaz crystal clip to pull hair back and leave the v-neckline uncluttered. Finally, a textured metallic shoe brings a little more of a party vibe to add to the celebration!


Jenny Yoo ‘Cadie’ dress | Tasha crystal hair clip | kate spade new york statement chandelier earrings | kate spade new york ‘charm’ sandal

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