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May 17, 2013

Behind the Seams: Nicole Miller

OK, we’re pretty excited (read: really thrilled) about this! We recently chatted with the fabulous Nicole Miller to bring you the details of her design inspiration, the hottest trends and how she got started in the bridal business. Plus, she tells us which dresses she would pick for different wedding destinations. Juicy! Read on, friends!

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The Wedding Suite: When did you decide to start designing wedding gowns? What kicked it all off?

Nicole: It was a natural progression. Friends of mine began asking me to design custom wedding dresses, usually loosely based off styles already on the line, in white versions. I realized the demand was there, and the rest is history… bridal is a big part of our business today!

Now you’re designing for the modern bride. We’re seeing metallic fabrics in a few of your designs, as well as the peplum trend. Any other trends you’re excited about for 2013?

Nicole: Many of my new gowns feature back detailing—lace continues to be a huge trend, but also scoop-backs, delicate beading and button accents as well as unique trims. Brides want to look gorgeous from all angles, especially from behind, when facing the altar!

Nicole Miller ‘Elizabeth’ Gown

How do you start designing a new gown or collection? What’s your first step?

Nicole: Now more than ever, bridal trends are mirroring ready-to-wear runway trends. Since designing my Artelier and Collection lines, I often adapt the trends and feelings of those collections and put a bit more of a bridal spin on them. I always take feedback from our brides and vendors into consideration while designing, too.

Are there any specific places where you seek inspiration for bridal design?

Nicole: I find inspiration in the most unexpected places! I love looking at vintage photographs and watching old movies, and I also sometimes find myself inspired by new technologies.

Pick your favorite dresses for these types of weddings: laid-back beach nuptials, modern hotel affair and classic garden party.

Nicole: Our ‘Aneka’ lace gown is perfect for a classic garden party, and has that beautiful back detail. The ‘Merril’ peplum silk faille gown is understated and chic for a modern city wedding. The ‘Sharon’ techno metal gown is the ultimate destination gown—the fabric does not wrinkle, is lightweight with a hint of beading and is extraordinarily comfortable.

Nicole Miller Peplum Silk Faille Gown

Nicole Miller Strapless Techno Metal Gown

Nicole Miller ‘Aneka’ Gown

Any advice for brides-to-be shopping for their gowns?

Nicole: The most important thing is to feel comfortable. Then, of course, you have to feel gorgeous. Then you will glow with confidence!

Well said, Nicole!

Shop Nicole Miller wedding dresses online or in our 18 in-store Wedding Suites.

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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 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.

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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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April 18, 2013

The LWD (Little White Dress) Is the New LBD

You already know the LBD—now meet the LWD! Just as the little black dress is a necessity for every woman’s closet, the little white dress is a must-have for brides-to-be. Our bridal director, Andrea Wasserman, dishes on the details:

“We love when brides choose to take advantage of their bridal moments and wear white (or ivory, off-white, eggshell… you get it!) for every wedding-related occasion. Whether it’s the engagement celebration, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, wedding reception or morning-after brunch, we’ve got the look.”

Here are Andrea’s tips on how to wear a few of our favorite LWDs:

“Pair this flirty Jill Stuart dress with the shoe of the season: a single-soled pump in a floral print.”

Jill Stuart Ruffled Chiffon Fit & Flare Dress

“Combine a sexy Monique Lhuillier strapless number (a Nordstrom exclusive), statement shoes and a glamorous necklace coordinate for a high-impact look.”

ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Strapless Ruched Cationic Chiffon Dress

“This day-to-night Donna Morgan dress picks up on the illusion necklines we’re seeing on the bridal runways. Pair it with an on-trend floral box clutch.”

Donna Morgan Embellished Ruffle Chiffon Dress

“Glam up this feminine, lace Eliza J sheath dress with show-stopping metallic heels in rose gold.”

Eliza J Embellished V-Neck Lace Dress

Which is your favorite look for wedding events? Or do you want to take them all?!

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April 13, 2013

Behind the Scenes at Our Ultimate Dance Party Shoot

One song. One dance floor. One hundred Nordstrom employees.  Two hip-hop stars.

If you think this sounds like the makings for a rockin’ party, we’d have to agree. And while it may have started at 9 a.m. instead of 9 p.m. (and was technically considered work!), we had a really, really, really good time. There’s nothing better than filming a wedding dance video with your friends and co-workers—except when Macklemore & Ryan Lewis make a cameo appearance to lend some well-dressed style and hot moves to the scene!

Now go behind the scenes to see the making of the video and get a glimpse into the Best. Day. Ever.

Oh, and did we mention there was a photo booth on set? We had so much fun hamming it up for the camera, we just had to make a lookbook out of the shots! Check out our employees modeling looks from our wedding suites here!


Haven’t seen the full video yet? Don’t miss it! You can watch it here.

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April 5, 2013

It’s a Dance Party…with a Cameo by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

You know that moment at a wedding, after all the romantic words have been said, glasses have been raised, the cake has been cut, and finally, everyone—from the bride and groom to Grandma and Grandpa—is on the dance floor getting down. Music is pumping, shoes are kicked off, hips are shaking, hands are in the air, the maid of honor is showing off her moonwalk, Uncle Bob is breaking out the robot…

The Nordstrom Weddings team loves that moment of energy and joy on the dance floor. We want to celebrate like that every day with our friends and family! So, we thought we’d bring the best wedding dance party to life.

We got our official dance squad (aka: our own employees with some serious moves) to rock out to a track we’re sure will be the next wedding anthem: “And We Danced” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis—who just happened to do a little rocking out themselves in a special cameo appearance.

The result? You’ll have to see it for yourself!

We had brides-to-be, married couples and single ladies and guys all dressed up in our favorite big day looks—including new wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses from our Wedding Suites.

We also want to say a special CONGRATS to Macklemore and his new fiancée! We’re so excited for the happy couple—and we totally offer to send our dance squad to his wedding. We have a feeling that would be a dance party for the record books!

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April 3, 2013

Real Wedding: Olivia & Jared

Olivia shares the details of her sunny, sandy Mexican beach wedding. Trust us, you’ll swoon!

The Proposal: Jared proposed to me in June of 2012. We were on a scavenger hunt in West Seattle, and Jared had the organizer add special clues just for me. He proposed in front of all our competitors!

I knew I would marry this man, so I had already purchased shoes that I’d been looking at for some time. They are beautiful electric-blue Badgley Mischka pumps, from Nordstrom, of course! Then the rest of the wedding planning began…



My Wedding Stylist: Heather Rose, Downtown Seattle Wedding Suite

The following Monday I went to the Wedding Suite to look at a dress I had seen online. The dress was beautiful, but I had to try on a few others while I was there. Heather found me a Theia couture gown to try just for fun, but I didn’t think it would be ‘the one’ as it was completely different from what I had in mind. My exact blue shoes were there in the Wedding Suite, so we got to see the entire look as I envisioned, with a long cathedral veil. To my surprise, I fell in love with the dress right away! I could see it in my mom’s and sister’s eyes too: it just fit. I bought the dress then and there.


Working with Heather was always an enjoyable experience when I went back for my fittings. She also helped find dresses for my bridesmaids and my mother. My mother wore an Adrianna Papell dress, while my bridesmaids wore Donna Morgan ‘Donna’ belted chiffon dresses.

All but one of us in my wedding party has at one time or another worked in Nordstrom cosmetics, so we did our own hair and makeup! I wore NARS bronzer in Laguna and highlighter in Albatross, Double Wear foundation from Estée Lauder, YSL mascara and YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch (a take-anywhere pen-brush for adding a touch of light). Laura Mercier was used for the rest of the look: blush, eyeshadow, concealer and brow filler. Nordstrom made it all very easy for us to prepare for our special day!


The Scene: October 29, 2012, at Casa Salinas II in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at sunset

We wanted a beautiful beach wedding with us barefoot in the sand with our family and closest friends. Not seeing the venue beforehand meant no specific expectations and limited décor. All we needed was the ocean in the background, the sand at our feet and blue sky. Our theme was all white/light attire, guests included. My sister, Lacey Silbaugh, is a very talented florist. She knew we wanted bright, colorful flowers and she took care of them. They turned out beautifully.



That day ended up being the hottest of all the days we were there, and it was gorgeous! Most of our friends and family were staying at the villa, so we started out with a wonderful traditional Mexican breakfast, after which I ran off to get ready with my girls. This getting-ready time with my bridesmaids was one of my favorite moments. After the wedding I would be off to Vancouver, BC, to live with my handsome Canadian husband, so the girl time was essential!

Our photographer, Cozbi Hultz, was with us the entire day, giving helpful tips and making us laugh. The villa was the most beautiful place I have ever stayed, so we had many naturally pretty settings for our photos.


The guests started to arrive around 6pm to find cocktails waiting for them, then headed down the steps to the setting on the beach. The ceremony started with my twin three-year-old nieces handing out flowers and dropping petals in the sand, followed by my two nephew ring bearers. The music began to play as the bridesmaids followed the candlelit stairway to the beach, where their groomsmen waited to greet them.


I followed shortly after, meeting my father at the bottom of the steps. The aisle was distinguished by pebbles from the ocean, the setting was lined with tiki torches and the sun was beginning to set. My father walked me down the aisle, handed me over to Jared and walked up to the front to give a very memorable wedding talk. Jared’s father finished with a beautiful prayer.

The reception followed immediately after the ceremony. We had a delicious dinner with a salsa band playing in the background.


Our Special Moments: Our first dance was memorable of course, but the second was my favorite. Spontaneously we decided to dance in the shallow area of our pool to a song titled “Something Like Olivia.” It was so romantic!

There was plenty of dancing and, yes, many ended up in the pool by the end of the night. This was not on the agenda, but Jared and I were happy to have a fun event for us and our guests to enjoy and remember forever. We wouldn’t change a thing about our special day and we hope to revisit the wonderful Casa Salinas.


Photography by Cozbi Jean Photography. See more of Olivia and Jared’s wedding photos here!

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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March 14, 2013

Real Wedding: Erika & Jason

We’re excited to share the summer wedding of Erika and Jason, taking place in our own hometown of Seattle!

How it all began: Twenty-two years ago, we lived just a few miles apart and never knew each other. Ten years ago, we lived just blocks from each other near the University of Washington and never knew. Four years ago, we met and, over the course of a couple of years, knew that we were supposed to be together forever. And now we’ve made it official with our wedding! Funny how those things work!

Through the years of dating, we’ve learned many things about each other. Some are profound, some pretty silly, but the most important thing we learned is that we belong together—as our personalities, our individual wills and our goals and aspirations in life are the ultimate complement to one another.


The scene: August 18, 2012, Pan Pacific Hotel, Seattle, WA

I chose the somewhat mixed theme of modern/vintage/whimsical/elegant because I love mid-century design, which I feel is evoked by the warm wooden walls of the Pan Pacific Hotel, but I also love eclectic and clean design elements, which we incorporated to make the venue feel fresh. I wanted the floral design to be seasonal and rich, so we used lemons for organic accents and a summery color palette of coral, gray, raspberry, light blue and butter yellow.

Instead of a guest book, we had vintage post cards from around the world, which we’ll now frame into a collage. Some of our other details included succulent favors in egg cups, lemon accents on the tables and trees at the altar, and Glassybaby candle holders. Wands with bells and ribbons were used to celebrate our exit!

Additionally, after having a very difficult year what with the passing of my father, we wanted to bring the summer to a close with a wonderful celebration that he so badly wanted to attend, with elements incorporated throughout the ceremony and reception that celebrated his memory, whether the guests were aware or not.


My look: I wore a strapless taffeta trumpet gown by Nouvelle Amsale. It had a gorgeous sweetheart neckline and an asymmetrical bodice with a full skirt. I absolutely LOVED my dress! One of my favorite moments of the process was trying on the dress and immediately being able to perfectly envision it in the aesthetic we wanted to convey.

I wore special jewelry around my wrist to celebrate family members who have passed away: a cross made of the diamonds that were in my grandmother’s wedding ring on a white gold chain and a locket with a tiny gold heart inside that my father gave me before he passed away in the spring of 2012.


My Wedding Stylist: Ari from the Downtown Seattle Wedding Suite

Ari was amazing. I felt like I had a girlfriend with me, helping me along the way, giving me honest feedback and support. She was extremely knowledgeable and made both my mother and me feel incredibly comfortable with the experience. Ari understood the feel and ambiance I was looking to achieve for the wedding, and she provided me with options that fit my vision with 100% accuracy.

I booked a Laura Mercier make-up artist through Nordstrom, and the day of the wedding, she did make-up for me, my mom and my bridesmaids. She was fantastic and provided make-up for each of us that was consistent with the fresh-faced look I was going for, but she tailored the look for each bridesmaid. I gave my bridesmaids Dogeared necklaces as gifts, each one with a different charm based on our friendship.

My mom loved her look, too. She wore a dress by Rachel Roy, Majorica pearl earrings, and a Judith Jack bangle. It was important for us that we work with local Seattle businesses for our wedding, and Nordstrom was one of those—it was one of the best decisions we made for our special day!

A favorite moment: Our wedding party was tasked with creating movie soundtrack-themed entrances for the reception: songs from Footloose, St. Elmo’s Fire, and Top Gun. Jason and I entered last with the Star Wars theme and our dogs dressed as Darth Vader and Princess Leia—a bit of cheesy fun that my husband was in charge of! We loved having our dogs be a part of the wedding processional, ceremony and reception!

Photography by JKoe Photography

Did you find your wedding gown at Nordstrom? We love a good wedding story! Email 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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March 12, 2013

Guest Post: Grey Likes Weddings

Our girl crush and bride-to-be Summer (a.k.a Lady Grey) of the amazing wedding site Grey Likes Weddings shares her tips on shopping for the perfect dress and her experience at our Wedding Suite in Brea, California!

Dress shopping was one of the first things that my mom, sisters, and I did as soon as I was engaged. It’s the kick off to wedding planning, right? While I knew I wouldn’t be able to make a decision until we had nailed down our venue, I knew I wanted to actually try on gowns and get an idea for what I liked on me. It’s pretty normal for brides to see dresses they love in a magazine, come in to try it on, and realize they totally hate how it looks on them!

I spent TONS of time dress shopping–I think I’m pretty particular. But I wanted to share with you a few tips for a successful experience and share with you images of our experience at Nordstrom Wedding Suite, which I highly recommend. (Yay for fun images by my sister, Hayley of T&H Photography!)

So here are my dress shopping tips:

1. Dress up. Go in with your hair and makeup looking fabulous, and with all the right undergarments. This makes a huge difference in how you feel and look in the dress!

2. Take just a few people you trust. I brought my sisters, mom and two girlfriends. That sounds like a lot, but it was nice to have the girlfriend perspective, mixed with the sisters and the mom. Either way, narrow it down and remember that YOUR opinion matters most.

3. Narrow down your silhouette favorites. If you walk in to a store and try on every single dress, you’ll feel exhausted and overwhelmed at the end of the experience. Trust me! I was able to figure out pretty quickly what I’d love and what I’d hate, so I was picky. That meant I tried on less dresses, but it was easier to save myself time and heartache trying on a dress that would look awful. (Like that belt above??? Click here!)

4. Be patient. Sometimes I’m surprised how quickly girls pull the trigger. If you are pinning tons of dresses with flowy tulle, make sure you track down that dress style and try it on! Don’t get distracted by dresses that look great on you and forget to go for what you’ve been obsessing over.

5. Take advantage of trunk shows! I didn’t realize this until I worked for a bridal atelier, but trunk shows are an opportunity for you to have access to a designer’s full line of gowns. Often times, designers make only one gown of each design, so the gown takes turns at each store. In order to have a chance to try on ALL of a collection, look for trunk shows in your area. Plus, you have the chance to possibly meet the designer, and/or get bonuses like discounts on things like alterations, accessories or your veil. (Obsessing over that necklace like I am??? Get it here!)

6. Try out Nordstrom Wedding Suite! Honestly, I ended up finding two dresses I loved–one for my shower and one for my get away! But both of them were not available in my size at the store. Our consultant got on the phone immediately and by the end of our appointment had located my sizes–one of which had to be found at a Nordstrom Rack–yes, they’ll do that for you! So I got this dress on a crazy sale and OF COURSE it was sent to me with no shipping charge. You can’t beat that. I mean it. Crazy crazy good customer service.

The other thing that is great is that they’ve got soooooo many dresses for bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride. ALL of us ended up trying on dresses, so it made for a really fun appointment! They also have every accessory you’d need for the big day–from a get away dress, fur caplets, jewelry, shoes–the list goes on. So you can get it all done in one place. (Love that sandal above on the right? So do I!!! Find it here!)

7. Lastly, if all else fails, bring your flower girl for comic relief. This is my niece Norah Mae–just shopping with the girls and having a grand time. She stole the show. She even tried on a few dresses and accessories. She’s as excited as I am about the wedding. It’ll be her big debut.

 

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March 5, 2013

Stylist Picks: Custom Gown by Olia Zavozina

Danielle Oxford, a Wedding Stylist at our suite in San Jose, California, gives us her ideas for how to customize a gown for your personal style and wedding theme.

My name is Danielle, and I’m a stylist at the Valley Fair Nordstrom Wedding Suite. I have to tell you about a new gown we’re carrying at the Wedding Suite—one of my all-time favorites!

At first glance, the ‘Britt’ gown from our new designer, Olia Zavozina, may not be what most brides picture themselves donning on their big day, but stay tuned. This chameleon is totally customizable!

As sampled, this showstopper features a perfectly structured mermaid silhouette, a soft pop of blush satin under a modern ivory lace pattern, genuine pearls that trail the whole back train, a classic sweetheart neckline and a fun and flirty peplum. To me, that peplum’s the icing on this delicious cake! With the perfect mix of vintage and modern, ‘Britt’ has that Old Hollywood vibe, with an updated twist.

The ‘Britt’ gown is available as a made-to-order gown in Nordstrom Wedding Suites.

Are you not a peplum type of bride? No problem. Order this dress without it, and define your waist with a simple ribbon or a crystal sash instead.

Is this type of lace too modern for you? Easy fix. Olia provides her brides with several different lace pattern options; options range from a classic floral pattern to a shimmery metallic one.

Not crazy about being a “blushing bride” with that pink satin under the lace? Choose ivory or white for a more traditional bridal look.

Were you hoping for a more modest neckline on your perfect gown? Done. With five different necklines to choose from, an adjusted sweetheart is the perfect solution.

The possibilities with this dress are so endless that it can virtually work for any venue or wedding theme. The difference is mostly in the type of lace you choose as well as in your accessories.

For a vintage-themed wedding, brides should choose a more classic lace pattern, pearl jewelry, and a birdcage veil or fascinator. A bride whose wedding is going to be very formal should choose the silvery, shimmery lace, with a statement necklace, crystal headpiece and cathedral veil. If your nuptials will be held outdoors, choosing a softer, lighter-weight lace is key for both comfort and practicality. Outdoor weddings have a more natural feel, so go lighter with the jewelry too, and wear flowers in your hair to tie it all together.

With so many ways to wear this marvel of a wedding gown, it’s no wonder ‘Britt’—and its designer, Olia Zavozina—are my new favorite additions to the Nordstrom Wedding Suite! Come visit me and see it for yourself!

This is me with designer Olia Zavozina herself at our Wedding Suite!

Could this be your dream dress? Call to make an appointment with Wedding Stylist at 1.888.300.1295 or book an appointment online. To find a Wedding Suite near you, see our NEW locations page.

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