Like Christmas Eve, only...

...more stressful! Our bridal fashion show is tomorrow (yes, Superbowl Sunday--I didn't even realize it at first, now I think it was an accidental stroke of genius). There are dozens of last minute details to sew up, so I've been too busy stitching to b-l-o-g, but here's a hint of tomorrow's hijinks:

Nautical Wedding Theme

Here is another inspiration board for a nautical wedding theme, from the sadly no longer Faye & Greer blogspot, love the cupcakes with the little flags and the favour bags. The use of yellows and lemons with the navy is also a crisp colour combination bringing a little sunshine into otherwise what could be a rather austere colour scheme.

Nautical Themed Wedding in Gibraltar

Napkin & Flowers Brides.com Wedding Yacht Toast & Tables Dress Oscar de la Renta

Bouquet & Table Setting Fresh Picked Weddings Boat Favours Reviva Weddings Cake & Flags Brides.com

The first Gibraltar Boat Show will take place in the New Marina and Leisure Island of Ocean Village on the 9th to the 12th April. We are very excited to be involved as the organisers search for a bride and groom prepared to have their wedding on one of the yachts. Here we have put together a nautical wedding theme ready for the big day. I have had such fun with this theme as there is so much you can do with the preppy blues, whites and reds. Flags, ropes, starfish the list is endless!

A Big Hello!

Shabby chic board from Brendas Wedding Blog

Wow! a big hello to all my followers, I am thrilled you have all added me to your lists, I hope to continue to find and publish interesting ideas for wedding and event design and decorations plus anything else I come across. I am also planning to feature more and more interviews, articles and any other things that my readers would like to suggest! We are also hoping to cover more real life weddings this year across Europe.

Thank you to you all for encouraging me

Laura x

White Akoya SaltWater Cultured Pearl Necklace & Earrings Set

Pearl earrings are a simple and affordable way to add some class to your wardrobe, and this pair is no different. We've used white Akoya salt water cultured pearls, measuring from 6.5 to 7 mm, and each pair's pearls are chosen for their uniformity in size, shape, and color. They're rated as AAA, since they are perfectly round, having a very smooth surface and gleaming luster, and we've mounted them on a lovely 14K yellow gold setting. Detail

Sterling Silver Celtic Design Bracelet

Sterling silver celtic design bracelet. Detail

White Gold Diamond Floating Heart Pendant

Show her just how much you adore her with this sparkling heart-shaped pendant. Crafted from gleaming 14 karat white gold, this small open heart pendant hangs askew at a charming angle and is covered in sparkling prong-set diamonds, giving it a radiant beauty and shine that is guaranteed to impress. An ultra-smooth and slender box chain threads directly through the pendant, preserving the shape of the heart and eliminating the need for a bale. The chain measures 18 inches and fastens securely with a spring ring clasp. Detail

Sterling Silver Marcasite & Garnet Glass Heart Pendant

Project an air of mystery and allure with this captivating glass heart pendant. The red glass heart is held in an ornate sterling silver setting, with vine-like filigree design of the silver backing visible through the glass. Tendrils of rope-textured silver and dark marcasite stones wrap the heart in front and continue along the ornate bale. This intriguing pendant is perfectly complemented by a thick and brightly polished Singapore twist chain. Detail

Engaging: Jessica & Hunter

Here comes....Hunter & Jessica! Could they be any cuter? Love the engagement shots taken by Lisa Webb. Oh...and the darling shirt Jessica is wearing was our inspiration piece for their wedding. Some peach, some creme, some pearls and some sparkle under a big white tent. It is going to be soft and romantic and a lot dreamy. I can't wait to see this one all put together and share some of the fun surprises with you.

Yellow Dress No. 5

, originally uploaded by sea shanties.

Soft lemon-ice-colored ruffles, like the first petals of spring. We got more snow last night...no, really, thanks, we've had enough...and if I don't see a crocus soon I may scream. Via sea shanties flickr set.

Twig centrepieces for weddings

Having posted that lovely photo yesterday of the beach setting with the twig centrepieces, I found this in my archive of fabulous photos, again of twig centrepieces with tealights hanging from them. Such a stunning way to dress a wedding and again can you imagine these all twinkling at night. That cake looks rather lovely too!

I do not have the credit for this photo so if it belongs to you please let me know.

Third generation dress.

This is Emily. This is Emily's dress. It is, miraculously, a fusion of her mother's and grandmother's wedding gowns. Grandma's gown supplied a very sweet satin panel for the bodice (see those little satin "petals" in the center?) and some fine 1940s lace. Mom's high necked, long sleeved dress became the template for a sweetheart bodice gown with cap sleeve style lace straps. I added yards and yards of tulle underneath the skirt to give it some pouf, and the gathered lace straps are made from the salvaged sleeves.
For a bit of polish, I added covered buttons down the back, made from the slipper satin of Grandma's dress. That lace waistband was, on mom's dress, a ruffle that wrapped around the shoulders, prairie-style. Much nicer this way, don't you think?

Turquoise Beach Wedding

I just fell in love with this photo again from Karen Wise, it is so calm and tranquil and such a fabulous setting that reminds me of the silvery sunsets we have here in Marbella. Sitting by the sea on a summers evening is probably one of my top three favorite things to do! Here I can imagine as the sun sets these fabulous twig arrangements are probably hung with tealights, how beautifully romantic and love the vibrant turquoise linens.

Indian Weddings in Marbella

It is with great excitement we have been asked to decorate some Indian weddings here in Marbella this year. We have been researching all the amazing ceremonies and decorations that are involved in putting together such beautiful and meaningful weddings. We came across this wonderful Indian wedding from Karen Wise, one of Americas top wedding photographers. The attention to detail with the stunning colours really do create the wow factor.

Body Shapes

Body Shapes : Hourglass/Pear/Apple/Inverted Triangle/Petite/Rectangle


Pear Shape or Triangle

A woman with a pear shape figure has smaller shoulders and upper body than lower body.

RECOMMENDED: A plain A-line gown with elaborate bodices or laces and beadings on the upper body will create provide the attention to your upper body instead of lower part of the body.

AVOID: Any type of body hugging gown, full skirts, or cuts that will make the upper body appear even smaller or the lower body larger.

Inverted Triangle

A woman with an inverted triangle figure has wide shoulders and heavy top with a small hip or lower body.
RECOMMENDED: Sleeveless with minimum and simple open necklines. Full skirts with bow at the back or mermaid designs will add a more curves on the lower body.

AVOID: Low necklines, heavy beading, oversize sleeves with elaborate bodices on the upper body. No to straight skirts.

Rectangle

A woman with an rectangle figure has a long and narrow body without much difference in measurements between the bust, waist and hips.

RECOMMENDED: Go for an oversized shoulders and sleeves with elaborate design. High waistline skirts with some beadings will camouflage the thick waist. Full skirts with horizontal styling or can-can lining/petticoat will bring out an even body shape.

AVOID: Slim silhouettes with vertical styling such as straight gowns should not be considered.

Hourglass

A woman with hourglass figure has both her bust and hip about the same measurement with an obvious waist line which is usually very much smaller.

RECOMMENDED: A strapless or off-the-shoulder gown. When shopping for a strapless gown, go for the one-piece gowns instead of two-piece gowns.

AVOID: A two-piece gown can result in a “choppy” look, splitting you into to figures, avoid heavily beaded dresses that tend to make the bride appear heavier and no high neckline gowns.

Short and Petite

As it says, short and petite.

RECOMMENDED: Princess/A-line with shoestring straps and off-the-shoulder gowns. Right shoe height must be considered also when you select your gown as you will need the shoes to add to your height, if the height isn’t right, it wolud ruin the gown.

AVOID: Straight/Sheath(unless you are well-proportioned) and ball gowns.

Have fun hunting for your perfect gowns! Remember that you shouldn’t be pressured to choose a gown that you don’t like. Take your time and the perfect gown is there waiting for you.

Summer of Love.

I'm already feeling warm and fuzzy from the inauguration, so it's a perfect day to post these dreamy, sunstruck shots from the new issue of Oregon Bride magazine. Above: Glastonbury dress--silk georgette with handmade flower corsage.
The rainbow frock in the background is my "rich hippie" wedding dress from Spring 2008. Painted silk crinkle chiffon.
Oh, summer. I remember you.

Precious.

New beaded shrug in the etsy shop. It will be hard to part with this one.

Bridal Gown and Other Services

Our collections are imported from Hong Kong and Taiwan, besides our bridal gowns, wedding dresses and the related accessories, we also offer bridal make over service and bride-to-be programme.

Sterling Silver Filigree Key Pendant

This romantic skeleton key pendant is exquisitely detailed in oxidized and rhodium plated sterling silver. The darkened silver interior and polished exterior add depth and dimension to the intricate filigree design, which includes interlocking circles, graceful swirls, and subtle heart shapes. A decorative filigree bale completes the ornate design. This pendant is suspended from an 18-inch sterling silver cable chain that fastens with a spring ring clasp. Detail

Druids Twisted Celtic Knot Vines and Leaves Leaf Drop

The twisted celtic knotwork pools downward and forms viney leaf drops. Ancient celtic artwork was often patterned from the nature of mother earth, letting us see how they may have appreciated the world around them. Detail

Rose Gold Brown Diamond Cat Pendant

Crafted in 14 karat rose gold, this charming feline sparkles with 27 brown diamonds (1/3 cttw) set in black rhodium and rose gold. With polished gold whiskers and a sparkling tail and collar, this petite pendant makes a darling gift for a cat lover. It presents on an 18-inch light rope chain, also in 14 karat gold. Enjoy this pendant with the chain provided, or add a different gold chain of your choice. Detail

Sterling Silver 3/16" (5 mm) Heavy "ROUND BOX" Chain

This Very Heavy ROUND BOX Chain is Made in Italy and it is Solid Sterling Silver. It has an Excellent Finish and Very Shiny. It is a little over 3/16" (5.0mm) Thick. It is Nice and Heavy and Rugged. It is ideal for hanging heavier pendants but also looks great worn as it is. It is completely NICKEL FREE so it's Hypoallergenic and can be Repaired and Polished. Detail

The back story.

Thanks ever so, lovely stylist Allison Jones, for using my striped organza halter dress for this shot. Photographer Lincoln Barbour shot this series of images for the Ardea, a new architectural project on the Portland waterfront. These pictures hang in the lobby and landings of the building.

Colours for weddings

This image from Geoff White just describes what we do with details to colour by adding in chair sashes and colours on the tables with napkins completely changes the look of this wedding, smart and elegant, I just love it, can you imagine if this was just white!?

Oysters and pearls.

A little peek at one of my new dresses that I'll be showing at the English Dept. fashion show...

A-spiraling we will go.

I've been locked in the studio making dozens and dozens of these. Snips and snails of gathered tulle and organza for Alli's wedding dress...funny how something so weightless and playful can take a lot of effort! It will all be worth it in the end...

White Gold Journey Curve Pendant

This elegant multi-stone diamond pendant is designed to represent the notion that love is a journey shaped by time and experience. Seven individual prong-set diamonds, with a total weight of 1/2 carat, are graduated in size and arranged along an S-shaped bar of 14 karat white or yellow gold. Detail

White Gold Moissanite 3 Stone Lucern Past-Present and Future

Celebrate your past, present, and future together with this stunning Lucern-style three-stone Moissanite ring. Crafted from 14 karat white gold, it showcases a substantial round Moissanite center stone flanked by two slightly smaller round side stones. All three stones are held securely in four prong settings and featured above a graceful open trellis design. Detail

Italian style for weddings

It is my father's birthday today and we are off to Da Bruno's, an Italian here in Marbella, for lunch so it seemed appropriate to sign off this morning with an Italian inspiration board from a fabulous blog I have found from Italy, A Wedding in Jpegs.

Alice in Wonderland themes

Can you imagine my amazement when I found these surreal photos from Jessica Claire, of this Alice in Wonderland party, exactly as I would have created it myself, wonderful use of colours and such work and detail has gone into this party. A brilliant theme, as the possibilities are endless and I love the coloured candlelabras. I do recall one of our stores here selling something very similiar to these last year, will have to make sure I look out for them this year.