A Photo is Worth a Thousand Words

Here at V&L we stress the importance of hiring a skilled photographer to capture the memories of your wedding day.  Your photos, and therefore photographer, are one of the most important things to allow sufficient funds for when creating a wedding budget.  The photos are what you will look at on your first anniversary, what you will show your children.. and grandchildren, what you will always have to remember the details and moments that truly matter from your wedding day.

photos by Kate Maxwell Photography - located in Portland, Oregon

You can hire a photographer that takes candid photos portraying a fun, sweet, casual atmosphere, or you can hire a photographer that takes more posed shots that are set-up to showcase specific people and events for a elegant, traditional wedding.  A great photographer can work with you on what you want and give you ideas on how to really express your wedding day in photographic representation.  

photos from Toby Hoogs Photography - located on Big Island, Hawaii
www.tobyhoogs.com

Once you find the right photographer, you need to start thinking about the shots you want to make sure are taken.  Wedding photographers typically have a general list for group/formal shots, but make sure to include things that may be special and unique to you.  If you are especially close with a particular family member, make sure the photographer knows you want portraits together; if you want a formal photo of you and your groom to replicate a photo from your parents' wedding or grandparents' wedding, make sure to get a copy to your photographer beforehand; if there is a unique design element that you want a picture in front of, include it on a list you send to or work on together with the photographer.


Also include still life images you want to commensurate - your shoes, wedding rings, dress, design elements, etc.  You should have a list of must-haves to your photographer at least a week before the wedding. 


 If you would like help creating/editing a list or finding an experienced photographer in your area , please contact us at info@vintageandlace.com!


www.vintageandlace.com

Finding the Perfect Dress

Finding the perfect gown is not always an easy task, but please try to make it fun!  Most wedded women comment that when they tried on 'the' dress, they knew it was the one.  My advice would be to find a gown you feel beautiful in.  You may not tear up or you may have to limit your choices if you are on a strict budget. The truth is there are lots of 'ifs,' but make sure when you wear your gown you feel incredible, beautiful, and everything you want to feel.  This is your day with your groom, treasure it and take some of the pressure off to be perfect.


A few things to consider when thinking about your wedding dress: What season is your wedding?  What is the location for the ceremony and reception?  Are either in a smaller space, is there room to move around casually in a full-skirted ball gown?  If you are walking down the aisle in a meadow, do you have a runner to accommodate a long train?  Are you having a destination wedding on the beach?  Do you have a themed wedding?  Not that you have to dress for the theme, but do you want to?  Is there a type of material that will work best?  You don't necessarily want to wear a heavy velvet gown during the hot summer for an outdoor ceremony.  Ultimately, the choice is yours to make, but take into account the other elements you want on your wedding day and what dress you will be comfortable in.

from abbyjean.typepad.com

Also look at the different styles of dresses so you can think about what will fit your body type best.  There are so many dress options in the many different silhouettes, fresh and modern, classic and timeless, vintage and lace. 

The basic silhouettes are:

A-line

Ethereal Monarch Gown by BHLDN

Ball Gown

Zara by Lea-Ann Belter

Trumpet or Mermaid

Quinlynn by Maggie Sottero

Sheath, Column, or Slip

Cecilia Gown by J. Crew

A few etiquette rules: Call to book a consult with a bridal boutique, most places require a reservation.  Look, look, and look some more to get an idea of what type of gown you want prior to your consult.  There is nothing wrong with trying different styles, you may be surprised what looks best on your body type, but try to narrow the choices down and have an opinion when you walk in.  Create a budget and clearly state it to your bridal consultant so you are only seeing gowns that you could purchase.  Bring a friend or family member, but don't bring too many so you have a clearer grasp on your feelings instead of 10 of your closest, opinionated friends and family.


The selection of a gown needs to ideally be 6 to 8 months prior to the wedding date.  This permits time for creation and alterations (usually at least 3 alteration appointments after selection).  If you have a shorter time length, make sure to inform your bridal gown consultant.


Again, there are many things to consider when selecting your gown; the bottom line is to make sure you feel beautiful!  Please contact us at info@vintageandlace.com for questions and recommendations.
www.vintageandlace.com

A Symbol of Love

I received an email from a bride this morning looking for jewelers in the Portland area, a common request from a bride and groom hunting for the perfect symbol of their love.  There are many different decisions a bride and groom must make when choosing their wedding bands: style & design, era, metal, rock/gem, etc.  The engaged couple can either choose the rings together (becoming more and more common) or pick the other's band and present it at the ceremony.  When looking for a band that would be a constant on your finger for many years to come, it is important to choose whether you want to go with a vintage or estate ring from a boutique, classic style from a respectable jeweler, or a unique, one-of-a-kind ring from a designer.  Choosing the era or style you are desiring can help direct you where to start your search.  Another thing to consider is if the bride wants a ring that fits with her engagement ring, especially if it has unique architectural elements, sometimes the best option would be to start where the engagement ring was purchased. 

Today I want to look at the different metals you can consider.  Common metals are gold (yellow, white, and rose), platinum, and titanium.  When choosing a type of metal, consider aesthetics/preference, durability, and cost.  With a gold ring you want to have 9kt, 14kt, or 18kt gold because they are the most durable and suitable for daily wear.  Titanium is the most durable metal and still very light weight; it is also good for anyone with allergic reactions to other metals.  One thing to remember about titanium is that it cannot be re-sized.  Platinum is heavier than gold or titanium and is a white, almost pure, metal unlike plated white gold.  It is the most expensive metal. 

Yellow Gold: 

from melissajoymanning.com

Titanium (most common for men's rings):

from shaneco.com

Platinum:

from catbird.com

Selecting wedding bands can be a stressful task, but try to have fun with it!  This is a symbol of your love, remember that the ring is not the most important thing, the love is.  If you need recommendations or help, don't hesitate to contact us at info@vintageandlace.com!

from Antoinette Jewelry, Portland

 www.vintageandlace.com