Beach Gift Ideas: What every bridesmaid would be happy to receive...and actually use!

Bridesmaids are the lucky women you chose to stand beside you on one of the most significant days of your life. You love them, right? Whether they’ve helped you tremendously or only slightly along the way, what matters is they’ve contributed to your happiness on your wedding day and you should express your gratitude towards them with a thoughtful gift. Since beach weddings are unlike any other wedding, it would be awesomely appreciated to give them something relevant and useful during their seaside stay. Here are some ideas to get you rolling:

● A monogrammed beach bag filled with goodies such as a beach towel, flip flops, SPF, and perhaps a reusable, aluminum water bottle if you are feeling eco-friendly. Take a look at the always comfortable and practical Havaiana flip flops in these fabulous “Slim-Turkish” styles:

...Tres chic! A solid, bright colored style would also be a great choice for your maids.

When Lilly Pulitzer isn’t making lobster speckled men’s khaki’s, she is making these stainless steel, re-usable water bottles in beachy chic designs (free of nasty BPA too!)

...A fun, practical addition to any gift bag, plus a wise idea to encourage your ladies to stay hydrated during the celebratory, albeit booze and sun-filled weekend.

A loose, thin, comfy fabric is perfect for lounging in sea or pool side, and even paired later in the evening with white jeans for a casual seafood dinner. Roberta Roller Rabbit makes Tunics, Kurtas (sarongs), and Beach Bags in beautiful traditional Indian prints.

Shown above is a fabulous sarong, one of the Tunics in an ultra flattering blue and white print that blends beautiful with the coastal scenery and an array of several of the designer’s classic and creative prints and accessories. Make your bridesmaid gifts even more special by personalizing each of the gals gifts by picking colors and patterns that most compliment each girl’s look

● A gift certificate to experience something adventurously unique to your beach location (i.e. wild horse tour, jet skiing, crabbing, surf lessons)

● A large, hardcover coffee table book of the coastal town you are in, complete with gorgeous pictures to remember it by. It will spice up their pads and be available to flip through when they’re feeling nostalgic!

● A funky, bright colored make-up bag filled with a girls favorite seaside toiletries such as shimmery self tanner, tropical-colored nail polish, bronzer, waterproof mascara, and a dual cheek/lip stain. To be more specific and get you rolling, here are some ideas:
*Check out this collectible Stila beach palette with an adorable name: “Still Haute in the Hamptons” available at Sephora (now on Sale!!):

This glam collection comes in four additional color palettes, each with a different coastal location and equally cute catch phrases.

* Let your girls share some of your wedding glow with this delicious, body-quenching, all-natural Pacifica Island Glow Beautiful Body Kit. It will have their skin looking radiant in your wedding pictures and the coconut scent will remind them of the special beach event long after you’ve said “I do.” BobbiBrown has fabulous sea-reminiscent skin and body finds as well!

Whatever you choose, make it fun, relaxed and hot...just like the beach!

xoxo,
Jen

Beach Bound Bridesmaids!

Last week's heat reminded us that Summer is definitely here, which means BEACH WEDDING SEASON is upon us! Being that I just served as a bridesmaid in black-tie, uber-traditional, capitol city wedding, I feel like the perfect candidate to dish out advice on how to properly care for your beachy bridesmaids. Okay, not exactly, but since I grew up by the sea, have dreamed of exchanging my vows in the sand (I thank The Little Mermaid for that fairytale vision of mine), and have a little bridesmaid experience up my dress, I have racked up a few suggestions on how to experience smooth sailing when it comes to bridesmaids on the coast. As a bridesmaid, I know I would greatly appreciate if my bride buddy kept these dress tips in mind....

 Keep It Short And Sweet

No, it does not have to be so short that your special ladies wear it clubbing long after you've exchanged vows, but mid-calf or above the knee is an optimal length.  Let's face it, your girls will be paying a fine penny to look beautiful during your special day, and we don;t want a dragging gown to get ruined and weathered by the sand or sea.  Salt water, sand and ocean breeze do not mix well with long, formal designer gowns!  Below are a few from the Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaid Collection, which is now available at one of our fav's, Carine's Bridal Atelier!

Consider Off-The-Rack

The beach screams relaxation, rejuvenation and fun, so it's best not to pick bridesmaid dresses that scream the exact opposite.  Your maids can be comfortable and chic in an easy to access off-the-rack dress!  If none of the females in the wedding party require custom sized apparel, then buying off-the-rack is a more practical option that usually will not break the bank.  See the pictures below of comfortable beach chic Lilly Pulitzer dresses that make for a gorgeous and effortless wedding photo.  Plus, all the women will surely be grateful for not having to make many a trek to the designer bridesmaid dress shop for several fittings and alterations.

Stay Cool!!!
xoxo, 
Kate

Cutest (Little) Things

So many of my previous brides have taken on a new role as mommies this year and I love getting emails announcing their new arrivals.  I always turn to Cutest Things to send a little something to my brides turned moms, and I was thinking how great some of these items would be as gifts for the little ones in your wedding...
Look at these adorable bags...


This lunch tote would be great filled with a few sweet treats to keep the flower girl going..



There are so many fun products available to spoil the little ones with! Visit www.cutestthings.com for some great ideas.


xoxo, 
Jen

A Little Bride Love

I just received this email from our February 19th bride, and had to share...

Dear Jennifer,

Joey, my family, his family, our friends, me, and anyone who had to deal with me during our wedding planning, are so grateful for your help!  Every time we met, I was instantly put at ease because I knew you had everything under control and understood my “vision.”  Every time you met with me, and one of my family members, we would talk about how great you are.  Once you were in the picture, my mom kept saying I was back to my old self (which is a good thing).  I was better able to concentrate on what really matters – me marrying Joey – and not on the other stuff.    

Your advice was always spot on and so helpful, but not pressuring in the least.  I’m sure I don’t even know the extent of it, but your hard work made our wedding perfect.  I am so grateful for the amount of time and how hard you worked on our wedding. You tirelessly worked hard to make sure everything I suggested, asked about, etc. worked out perfectly.  Thank you so much for buying the candles, folding all the programs and tying the ribbons, folding each place card, picking up and delivering the pashminas, and all the other things you did that saved us so much time and were above and beyond! It was so nice being able to give you the programs, placecards, wedding day pictures of parents and grandparents, DVDs of slide show, CD of band break songs, and know they were going to be handled as planned.  It was so nice just not having to see them anymore and make sure they got to where they were supposed to go.

You were the perfect combination of calm, in charge, reassuring, listening, directing, and advising.  The rehearsal was so painless and quick.  Our wedding party was blown away by how little time we spent on tedious things at the rehearsal and on the wedding day, and we’re so grateful to be able to quickly and smoothly celebrate at the reception.   

I told you that I learned throughout wedding planning that I apparently have “control” issues and that I couldn’t imagine just being a guest at my own wedding and sure that everything was being taken care of and done correctly.  But I quickly learned that, because you of, that wouldn’t be the case.

The church looked perfect with the candles and floral arrangements, and everyone seated up front…just like I had asked.  No green cloth on the altar either ;)   

On the wedding day, I have NEVER felt so calm in my entire life.  I was so calm because everything had been taken care of early in the week, the rehearsal went perfectly, and I knew you would be in charge that day and not forget even one of the million things we discussed over those weeks.  I was worried that I would be a control freak at the rehearsal and be a bridezilla directing our friends/wedding party, but I didn’t have to at all because you took charge in a friendly way, and I actually had time to chat with our wedding party and family and just enjoy the rehearsal. I really appreciate you checking with the florist about the birch bark vases – it was so reassuring knowing you’d be checking on it and that you knew exactly what I was talking about it and that they’d be clean and uniform.

There were just so many little things that blew me away.  Putting in my sisters’ hair flowers, directing the limos, putting the champagne in the limos, spraying my dress with static guard, your emergency kits, and even passing out Listerine strips to the bridesmaids!

You answered every email quickly and thoughtfully.  You truly were a Godsend.  I was so worried that on my wedding day I wouldn’t be able to relax or enjoy and experience the true significance of the day because I’d be too involved in the planning of the day and making sure everything was done right.  But it wasn’t like that at all.  I felt SO taken care of, and all I had to do was go to my beauty appointment and get in the limo, and everything would be as I hoped.

Thank you so much for bringing your assistant along too.  That really helped.  I hope you take this as a compliment, but you really felt like an extremely helpful bridesmaid who happened to have wedding planning expertise.  I really enjoyed our time together.   I will definitely be recommending your services as a MUST for a successful wedding.

Best,
Maura (McGovern) Kantakevich
February 19, 2011

Katie & Andrew’s Same Day Edit Trailer

This past September we had the pleasure of working on Katie and Andrew's spectacular wedding at The Willard. Suburban Video was there to capture the day, and boy did they do an amazing job! What I loved the most was the same day edit they produced! They worked fast to put together clips from the day into a beautiful reel that guests were surprised to see on plasmas entering the party. This is definitely a wonderful touch to include in your wedding! See a link below to the film!  Also, how beautiful is the bride below...thanks Isacson Studios for the images!

Katie & Andrew’s Same Day Edit Trailer

xoxo,

Jen

Bridget and Frank

Thanks to Blue Sky Films for this great post on our very own Bridget's wedding! It seems like just yesterday, what a fun night!!

Click the link below to see a video from Bridget and Frank's wedding!

Bridget and Frank

The Happy Couple

The Planners: Jen and Bridget

I remember telling her that night at the after party that I was pregnant, and now Tate is here..time flies!

Photos by Jennifer Lust Portrait Design

A Proposal Toasted with Cream Cheese

So every Wednesday morning my daughter and I go for a bagel breakfast at our favorite little spot, Ize's Bagelry, and yesterday we got an extra special treat.  They have a "Trivia Question of the Day" and if you answer correctly you win two free bagels.  Well as we were enjoying our bagels and schmear a young gentleman came in and requested that the question of the day be changed to "THE" question for his girlfriend who was about to come to the bagel shop.  The owners happily obliged and changed the question.
As a wedding planner, I had to stay and witness this!! About 20 minutes later the girlfriend came in and went to order her bagel and then suddenly stopped.  She turned around and there her boyfriend was on bended knee!  The whole shop erupted into applause as she accepted!!

Now, technically she answered the question correctly, so does she get 2 free bagels as well???

Have you ever witnessed a proposal??? Tell me about it!!!