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May 8, 2013

Bridal Fashion Week: Trends We Love (Part 2)

We’re back with more from Bridal Fashion Week! In addition to the latest fabrics and decorative details, we saw some interesting new trends in customizing wedding dresses. One way is to add a cover-up. Whether it’s for modesty, warmth, style or all three, wearing a light layer on top of a dress is a beautiful way to change your look. The best part is that you can remove it later for the reception, so you’re basically getting two looks in one!

Here are a few of our favorite types of cover-ups, straight from the runways and the designer showrooms:

Lace: At Hayley Paige, a dainty removable capelet was soft and feminine. At Vera Wang, it was loose and dark. (Fun fact: this black topper is called the “bubble tee.” Cute, right?)

Long: At Monique Lhuillier, it was all about length, in both solid and sheer fabrics. These floor-grazing capes are especially dramatic.

Tulle: At Lela Rose and Anne Barge, full-skirted gowns were topped with a sheer, airy layer of tulle.

Don’t miss Part 1 of our trend recap, as well as a “day in the life” of our bridal director Andrea at Bridal Fashion Week!

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May 7, 2013

Keira Knightley Got Married! Get Her Look

One of our favorite British babes tied the knot over the weekend, and we’re loving her laid-back wedding style. Keira Knightley and James Righton were married in a small ceremony in France, and Keira rocked a sweet (and supposedly not new) little white dress, flats, sweater and sunglasses.

Here’s our take on her casual, comfortable look for the big day. Just add a handsome groom, a smile and a little skip in your step!

Jill Stuart Ruffled Chiffon Fit & Flare Dress | Tildon Beaded Bomber Sweater | Menbur Bridal Flat | Ray-Ban Classic Wayfarer Sunglasses

Don’t miss our little white dress lookbook with more short dress options!

Image courtesy of Daily Mail

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May 3, 2013

Guest Post: SnapKnot’s Engagement Photo Tips

Our friends at SnapKnot are back with more fabulous photography tips for couples. This time, SnapKnot photographers are sharing ideas on where to take engagement photos.

Location, location, location! When it comes to choosing where to have your engagement photo session, there are several things to consider in order to make the most of this special shoot (really, it’s the fun part).

1. Choose somewhere special.
“The more meaningful the location, the more you will love your images and the better they will tell your story.”
- Dawn Nash Photography

A few specific ideas:
-Where you had your first date
-Where you had your first kiss
-Where you got engaged
-A destination that you love to get away to
-A locale that incorporates shared hobbies or interests (hiking, sports teams, etc.)

Nathan Moreau Photography

2. Determine your style.
“Having your wedding in the city? Then why not do a country- or rustic-themed engagement session, just to mix it up? Or, if you’re having a large ceremony in a beautiful cathedral, then consider an urban-grunge engagement session, if that suits your taste.”
- Jessica Chapman of Brio Media Photography & Design

Medcalf Photography

3. Be realistic, and make sure to check out the location beforehand.
“It is important to find a spot that reflects your love and a place where you’ll both feel comfortable. There is no such thing as an ugly location… there is beauty everywhere.”
- Eugenio Williams, The Wedding Traveler

The Wedding Traveler

4. Be creative.
“Think of all the creative locations that incorporate great architecture that you may not have access to on your wedding day. Consider creating a storyboard using images from magazines and posters that inspire you.”
- Jessica Chapman of Brio Media Photography & Design

Medcalf Photography

Don’t have a photographer yet? Check out SnapKnot’s list of local photographers, and in case you missed it, SnapKnot’s Top 10 Tips for wedding day photos.

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May 2, 2013

Bridal Fashion Week: Trends We Love (Part 1)

At last week’s Bridal Fashion Week, designers showed the latest and greatest in wedding gowns, including fresh ideas for fabrications, silhouettes and customization. It’s always a thrill to see this first peek at what’s to come, and we loved many of the new trends. We think brides will, too!

Here are a few that caught our eye:

Sparkle: We saw lots of gorgeous embellishment coming down the runway. Think beading, sequins and metallic embroidery, for the bride who loves her bling.

Hero

Detailed Backs: Expanding on what we saw last year: low, lace, and bejeweled backs were everywhere. We love this idea, as brides tend to stand with their backs to the audience during the ceremony.

Lace Appliqué: This lovely fabrication was on everything from little white dresses to veils to gowns. Perfect as a romantic, feminine alternative to allover lace.

Check back for more trend recaps in the next few days!

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May 1, 2013

Pinning with The Perfect Palette

We all know Pinterest is a bride-to-be’s best friend. (Let’s be honest, the same goes for a pre-bride-to-be—hello, secret wedding boards!) With thousands of beautiful, inspirational images of everything from gowns to flowers to food, we can’t get enough either!

One of our favorite pinning pastimes is finding inspiring color suggestions and images, and we know brides agree. So we’re thrilled to be partnering with The Perfect Palette on our Nordstrom Weddings Pinterest boards, to bring you ideas in every shade of the rainbow.

The Perfect Palette is THE source of color inspiration for parties, fashion, and of course, weddings. There are 54 shades to choose from on the Search by Color function, and more palette board ideas than we can count. The pairings are fresh and unique, and the color names (“cerulean”, “fig”, “latte”) take us back to our Crayola days.

Look for our shared Pinterest boards where we’re always pinning bouquets, table decor, bridesmaid dresses, bridal accessories and shoes…really, we’re as addicted as you are! We grouped colors in these categories so you can get mix-and-match inspiration.

BOLD BRIGHTS: think electric blue, hot pink, sunny yellow, grass green

Hero

SPARKLE & SHINE: think silver, gold, copper, pewter, bronze

PERFECT PASTELS: think peach, blush, mint, lavender, lemon

BLACK & WHITE: think, well, black and white (but oh, the combinations!)

Follow us and tell us what you like in your comments and repins!

We also have a NEW Shop by Color function for bridesmaid dresses on our site. Check it out!

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April 30, 2013

One Dress, Three Ways: ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids

Brides, if you haven’t seen this dress yet, you’ll want to check it out for your girls! This strapless cationic chiffon dress by ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids is a customer favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The ruched sheath silhouette is flattering on different body types, it comes in an array of gorgeous shades and it’s simple enough to be styled in many different ways. (Wondering what ‘cationic’ means? It’s the type of chiffon fabric, which has a subtle shimmer and deep color.)

Here we styled the gunmetal color in three different ways. Which do you like best?

Alexis Bittar Miss Havisham Cuff | Tasha Hexagonal Clutch | Nina ‘Mariana’ Sandal

Majorica Pearl Illusion Necklace | Sondra Roberts Crystal Mesh Clutch | DAVID TUTERA ‘Joy’ Sandal

heroGivenchy Aurelia Necklace | Tasha Flower Box Clutch | Miu Miu Glitter Sole Pointy Toe Pump

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April 25, 2013

Bridal Fashion Week: Andrea’s Pics

We have a different version of Andrea’s Picks this week: Andrea’s Pics—a round-up of our bridal director’s Instagram photos from New York at the biggest bridal fashion event of the year! From gorgeous (Vera Wang!) to delicious (cheesy pizza!), see the week through Andrea’s eyes.

Quiet before full sunrise. World Trade Center going up in the background.

Prepped and ready with the essentials: change of shoes, jacket, snack.

Empire State Building framed by the Manhattan Bridge.

Loved meeting the darling Kelly Faetanini, and this gown!

Print bridesmaid dresses are here to stay at Amsale.

Found a sunny spot to stand and catch up on email for a few minutes!

HeroVera Wang. Now I know what to wear to my next red carpet event. Wink!

Amazing detail on this gown at Anne Barge.

Exciting color, lace, and print. We must be at Jenny Yoo!

Fancy business trip dinner: pizza!

For more insider access with Andrea, follow @NordstromWed on Twitter where she is live tweeting through the week!

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April 23, 2013

Bridal Fashion Week: Structural Sophistication at Amsale

Wedding designer Amsale is always a favorite to see during Bridal Fashion Week, and this year was no different. Our buyers took in the show from the front row and captured Amsale’s fresh silhouettes coming down the runway. A clear trend emerged: sophisticated, tailored, structural dresses—a perfect mix of modern and feminine.

We love: the nod to a retro sheath dress, and stunning flared skirt.

We love: the gorgeous silk faille texture and bateau neckline.

We love: the drop waist lace appliqué and amazing shape of the full skirt.

We love: the fitted top and flowy skirt connected by a sweet bow.

We love: the perfectly cut V-back and modern, tiered skirt.

To check out our current collection from Amsale, browse the lookbook of our exclusive line, Nouvelle Amsale. To make an appointment with a free Wedding Stylist, call 1.888.300.1295 or book an appointment online!

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April 23, 2013

Bridal Fashion Week 2013: Here We Go!

One of our favorite weeks of the year is here! Bridal Fashion Week kicked off in New York City and we’re like kids in a candy store, so excited about all the newest gowns from our favorite designers. During this week, we attend runway shows and meet with designers to pick the wedding dresses we’ll carry in the Wedding Suite for the next season.

While we could talk for days about all the details, we also know a picture is worth a thousand words—so follow our fashion week journey through the photos below (with more to come this week!). You can also follow the action on Twitter @NordstromWed where our bridal director, Andrea Wasserman, is live tweeting throughout each day!

Mt. Rainier greets us along the way to the airport in Seattle.

At the hotel, laying out the week’s shoes. The flats will come in handy!

Central Park view from our hotel. We could get used to this!

First meeting with the lovely Kelly Faetanini, with a gorgeous lace back dress.

Next to the runway at Vera Wang. Seeing lots of black and white!

Buyer Sharon examines the Vera Wang gowns up close.

At Nicole Miller, checking out a favorite gown, now in lace!

Sharon and Lisa looking through options. Decisions, decisions!

Andrea and designer Heidi Elnora ending the night at dinner–in matching jean jackets.

Check back this week for more coverage of Bridal Fashion Week including our favorite new trends!

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April 19, 2013

Brideology: Flower Power

Call me crazy, but I decided I’m going to do all my wedding flowers on my own. Stressful? Maybe. Fun? Yes, I think so!

At one point, I considered using a professional florist or getting premade bouquets from a farmer’s market, but I’ve also been trying to find ways to cut costs. After a little research, it was clear that buying fresh-cut flowers in bulk is much cheaper, and arranging bouquets can be pretty simple.

A local flower guide snapped from a Seattle magazine inspired me to make my own arrangements.

I don’t have specific color preferences; I want all kinds of bright, summery flowers, like dahlias, anemones, gladiolas and zinnias. I found out that there’s a farm right next to our wedding venue that sells bulk blooms all summer, so I’m working with them on what will be available at the time of our wedding.

Pretty dahlias in bulk from a local farm, via Pacific Horticulture.

Then I thought, if I’m going DIY, I might as well REALLY go for it and grow some flowers myself! So I bought a few bags of bulbs at Costco and planted them last weekend in containers on our deck. Hopefully, they’ll add some color to our house, and then we can harvest in time for the wedding. (P.S. If you go to Costco, I dare you to not spend an hour looking at all the pretty color combos and flower choices! I had to be dragged away.)

Nothing says SPRING like planting flowers in the sun!

There are great resources online for how to create bouquets and other decorative arrangements. My favorite is the Cali-based duo Wedding Chicks. The whole wedding site is gorgeous and addictive! In one section, they share “Bouquet Recipes,” with beautiful images, names of every flower used (so helpful!), and easy-to-follow instructions.

Amy, one of the chicks, said, “We decided to create Bouquet Recipes as a segment to help brides identify the flowers that they love. It’s also meant to inspire brides for their own bouquets, whether they hire a professional or choose DIY.” She also made a great point to me about DIY: “We would suggest testing your skills a few times before the big day to make sure you can achieve the desired result and look!”

Peach bouquet via Wedding Chicks with amaryllises, peonies and much more.

Fortunately, I won’t truly be doing it on my own. I’ll be recruiting my mom, mother-in-law, sister and bridesmaids to help. I actually can’t think of anything more fun than sitting in the sun with my girls, sipping sangria and arranging bouquets!

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