If you have been reading the dish for a while you will already know what I think about wedding favors. To say the very least, I am not a fan. Nine times out of ten they are useless little bits of fluff, completely unnecessary, that brides end up spending way to much money on and obsessing endlessly over. Only to have the guests leave them on the table. Sigh. That having been said…I have found a totally worthy favor idea, absolutely worth spending the money on that your guests will never forget.

In the recent issue of Modern Bride Betty Goldberg did an interview with the fabulous Mindy Weiss. Mindy has planned wedding for such A-listers as Heidi Klum and Avril Lavinge. Among the brilliant ideas she shared was a favor idea that this wedding diva can finally get behind: survival bags’ to hand to the guests as they leave. Included are foot relief bath salts, Advil, eye pads and water. I would probably throw in a little something sweet for your guest to nosh on the ride home; a personalized sugar cookie, a couple of chocolate truffles or a luxurious brownie. How much more will your guest appreciate this thoughtful gesture than a votive candle with your new monogram?

The point of a favor is to show your guests that you are grateful they chose to share your day with you. What better way to do that than to acknowledge that they had a wonderful time dancing the night away? Love it, Love it!

Maybe it is the season or maybe it was just a need for a little retail therapy that hit everyone at once, but last week was all about shopping.

It started on Wednesday when a package arrived from Florida. The necklace that AJaron designs had made for me was inside and even more beautiful than I had anticipated. Included in the package was a note from Amanda saying that she had scored a slot on The Home Shopping Network in March. I will be sure to keep you posted so you can ‘see’ the fabulous Amanda and her gorgeous jewelry. Thanks Amanda, I love it!!

Next up was a pre-opening reception for Bella Bridesmaids. Alice Hendry, planner extraordinaire, put together a lovely little champagne reception for all the industry insiders to view of Caroline Hamburg & Angela McMillin’s new ‘baby’. French Confections provided a stunning cake and Nick of Thyme did the canapés. It was all very chi-chi. Your wedding diva even found a little something for herself: the perfect frock for this spring’s Bridal Buyer’s Award in Harrogate. Yeah! I can cross that off my list. Just because it’s called Bella Bridesmaids doesn’t mean that it isn’t a perfect place for special occasion frocks as well.

Next up, the Ladies Who Limo took to the streets to do a little early Christmas shopping before we all get too busy to care. Diane Nesbitt provided the transportation in one of her completely lux rides from Matchless Limousines. Nestled in the soft leather seats sipping champagne along with your diva and Miss Diane were Lesli Emmets the lady behind the lens at Divine Images and Vickie Hudson, the concierge at the 5-star, 5-diamond Hermitage Hotel. I have to tell you the girls had a blast. If you hate the crowds, hates the parking and whole shopping line experience…what better way to ease the pain then having one’s own personal chauffeur and vehicle brought up to each of the shop doors….fun, fun, fun. Definitely give Diane and company a call to schedule your own ladies day out. You won’t be disappointed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING A WEDDING GOWN

Chances are that if you are reading this then you just got engaged. Congratulations! For a lot of brides finding the right wedding gown is one of the most important parts of wedding planning. It can also be the most confusing and difficult tasks you face. How much fun you have is all a matter of how you approach it. So before you embark on this journey arm yourself with some of the hows and whys as well as a few simple rules of the road.

Before You Begin

There are some things you need to decide before you even start to think about your gown. The number one reason women end up as ‘two gown brides’ is because they skip these important steps. First you have to determine the style of your wedding. Look at the season, the time of day, location and level of formality you envision. An over the top beaded gown with a cathedral train may look ridiculous at a garden wedding brunch in July.

Now is also the time to find out if the location of your ceremony has any restrictions. Some churches frown on or forbid low cleavage or backless gowns. Check with your officiant on these things before you fall in love with a gown you can’t wear.

You should also set your budget. There are beautiful gowns in every price range so be realistic in setting this figure. You need something that is appropriate to both your wedding and your wallet. Make sure you include funds for your accessories and alterations.

Imaging Your Perfect Gown

Go through those magazines you bought and check the Internet for ideas and inspiration. Consider this the brainstorm phase, pull everything you might remotely like and also pull things you hate, hate, hate. Go back through them and try and find some common threads and narrow your stack of pictures down to three or four. Focus more on the details than the silhouette. Just because you love a certain silhouette in theory, once you try it on it may not be the most flattering cut for you. The smart bride will be open to a variety of styles at this stage of the game.

A Note on the Fashion Layouts in Magazines

Those are often the original samples made under the personal supervision of the designer. The models are at least 5’11’’ and in perfect shape. Even at that, sometimes the gowns are pinned and taped in place, and then the image is airbrushed to perfection. So take those pictures with a grain of salt.

Finding the Salon

Where you buy your gown can be as important as the gown you choose. This is not the purchase of a trendy skirt that if you get it home and don’t like you can just return it. This is one time in your life when you can use all the professional assistance you can get. Bridal salons are the only place you will find this kind of service. Start with the local bridal magazines, websites and bridal shows. That will give you an idea of what is out there. Follow up by asking recent brides for referrals. Call the Better Business Bureau and check their rating. Contrary to popular myth, a salons reputation is its stock in trade so they work very hard to please their customers. If you are looking for a particular designer, check their website to find an authorized dealer in your area. That is a good way to avoid ending up with a knock-off you thought was the real thing.

Make a list of the salons in your area and head out for a look; not to try on. Most salons prefer you make an appointment to try on gowns. It is a smart idea to stop by in person to make your appointments. This gives you a chance to check out the salon and the professionalism of the staff. Also find out what price range they carry. If you like the salon, make an appointment to come back and try on gowns. Weekdays and evenings will be less hectic than Saturdays and worth your extra effort. On a personal note, try not to schedule an appointment for a time when you will be bloated and cranky, if you know what I mean. Don’t schedule more than two salons for one day or you will end up exhausted with a bad case of “White Blindness.”

What To Expect At The Salon

You have done some planning, made some decisions and scoped out some salons; now comes the real fun-trying them on! I have heard from some brides that they find the salon experience intimidating and scary. Not for you because you are well prepared and have already checked out the shops.

Sample Sizes

Unlike ready-to-wear where you buy off the rack, bridal gowns are usually custom ordered. That is why the majority of salons will have each style in only one size. When shops buy samples they try to order in a fairly average size for their market. So unless you are average size the sample probably won’t fit. Your consultant will know how to deal with this well enough to give you an idea of how the gown will look on you. That will include using clips if it’s too big or elastic straps if it’s too small. Don’t worry about it just go with the flow. Another thing not to worry about is the dress size. Sizing on bridal is all over the board; there is no consistency or correlation to your ready-to-wear size. Each designer has his or her own size chart.

Selection

Some salons let you comb through the rack to find things you like, some don’t. The consultant will have a pretty good idea of what to pull based on what you have told her you are looking for and your body type. This is often the easiest way to go. Be open to suggestions. If the consultant or your mom suggests a gown, try it on. Sometimes an objective eye is just the ticket and you might be pleasantly surprised. At the very worst, it could be worth a laugh.

What To Take

Be prepared to describe the style of your wedding, the date and time of day and the style of gown you want. Bring your three or four pictures. It is tempting to bring everyone with you for advice and to be a part of the moment, but don’t do it. Take one or at the most two very trusted friends or family members. Leave the posse and the kids at home. You don’t need the distraction.

Undergarments: Yes, you will have to strip to your skivvies and you will need help getting in and out of the gowns. Dress accordingly. It is a good idea to at least bring a strapless bra with you. Some salons have bras, corsets and bustiers for you to use in the try-on process; others do not. Even if you would never think of wearing pantyhose on your wedding day, they will make getting in and out of multiple gowns easier. Limit your makeup and perfume. Lay off the self-tanners the day of your appointments. Would you really want to try on a sample with someone else’s makeup all over it?

Bring bottled water and a sense of humor. Fun as it may be, it is still a lot of work.

Other Things To Consider

Be honest about your budget. You run the risk of making yourself miserable if you start trying on gowns that you know are way out of your price range. There are fabulous gowns at every price point so don’t torture yourself. Even if you brought in a picture of a very expensive couture gown, those style points might very well exist in lower price point lines. Do leave a buffer for accessories and alterations.

Don’t instantly write off a gown because of a bump here or a bulge there. Ask your consultant if some of the amazing undergarments on the market today would solve the problem. On the other hand don’t expect a full-blown miracle.

Your consultant should be well versed in any changes available on the gowns they carry. Most designers offer a range of options for changing a gown. So if you love the gown but hate the train ask if it can be changed. The worst they can say is no. The same goes for necklines, sleeves, beading and embroidery. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If they don’t know the answer they should offer to contact the manufacturer and find out, which may take a few days. Be sure to find out about the additional charges for custom changes.

If you are down to choosing between two or three gowns consider the alteration challenges for each one. Different gowns will have different degrees of difficulty in any alteration. So once again, ask the question. Talk to the seamstress if at all possible.

Try to schedule a break between salons. Grab a bite, make some notes and just regroup in general.

A Note About Gowns Being Discontinued

Yes it is a possibility. Designers discontinue some gowns every season. If you love a gown ordering it within a few weeks of finding it should be all right, but don’t wait six months or you may be out of luck.

Ordering Your Gown

The salon will take your measurements to see what size gown to order; not to have it made to those specific measurements. Match your current measurements to the manufactures size chart. Order the size that corresponds to your largest current measurements. Ask to see the size chart and sign off on the size ordered. Even if you plan to lose weight before your wedding, order based on your current measurements; it takes off the pressure and the gown can always be taken in.

Expect to put down a non-refundable 50% deposit before the salon will order your gown. The balance is usually due when the dress arrives.

Get any changes you requested in writing and make sure both you and the salon have signed off on it.

If you need your gown sooner then the standard ship time for your particular designer there will be a rush charge. A lot of gowns are manufactured overseas. A rush charge may involve airfreight at a hefty fee.

The Salon Called, Your Gown Is Here. Now What?

Make an appointment and go try it on! Now is the time to bring the posse if you want to. Have fun trying on all the different accessories to complete the outfit and get the full picture. It is much easier to select your jewelry and headpiece or veil when you are wearing the gown.

Ask the salon what they recommend for undergarments. If they don’t sell lingerie they know who does and what will work best for your gown.

Just about any gown will require some alterations. For that you will need a seamstress that is very experienced in bridal fashion. Every gown is different and so is the degree of difficulty of everything from adding cups to hemming. Get referrals on this too. You are not bound to have your alteration done at the salon where you got your gown. Once you find your seamstress find out the estimated cost and how long the alterations will take then make an appointment.

What To Bring

You will need your shoes or ones of the same height and the undergarments you plan to wear. The same rules apply for makeup and self-tanner. You don’t want to have to clean your gown before you even get to wear it.

Move around in your gown; sit, dance and toss an imaginary bouquet. See if there are any unsightly gaps, falling straps or boobs on the loose. Also take note of any seams that rub. Have these addressed by your seamstress now instead of on your wedding day.

If your gown has a train bring pictures of the bustle you want. These don’t come standard and must be done by your seamstress.

The Final Fitting

Woohoo, it’s almost done. Bring everything with you that you brought to the first appointment. And bring your maid of honor or your wedding planner. They will need to know how to get you into the dress and how to adjust the corset back or sash. Someone besides you also needs to know how to arrange and fasten the bustle.

Now is a good time to ask what to use to spot clean the gown in the event of a smudge or spill the day of the wedding. A good seamstress should be familiar enough with fabric to help you out here.

If you are having a portrait done before the wedding, make arrangements to have the gown re-steamed and spot cleaned before your wedding.

Finding the gown of your dreams is a once in a lifetime experience. You should enjoy the process as much as the gown.

Yesterday was amazing. It was everything that you would expect from fashion week in the world of designer bridal. There were runway shows scheduled every hour on the hour starting at 9 in the morning with the last show starting after 8.

We started at the Flatotel at Justina McCaffrey’s show. Justina brings in ballerinas from the Canadian National Ballet Company. It is nice to be able to see the way the gowns move as the dancers pirouette down the runway. The gowns in the Majestic Collection are all about the cut. They are so different and very precise. There was Alencon lace, lovely satins, organza and shantung. As always, a hit.

Because the shows were so tightly scheduled we hired a car for the day. Bruce, our driver kept the engine on the BMW reved at the curb and he whisked us off across town to the Reem Acra show. This is the show for which everyone that’s anyone tries to get an invitation. Carley Roney of the Knot was there but her fashion editor Kim Sunshine was absent. I later found out she had her baby yesterday. (Congratulations Kim!) Speaking of babies, Darcy Miller, editor of Martha Stewart Weddings was there with her darling daughter.

Next it was back across town to have a look at the Monique Lhullier Collection. The fabrics she uses are just spectacular. The first gown down the runway is a good example: a mushroom colored matelasse pleated trumpet gown. Then of course the use of lace was exquisite; it is after all one of her hallmarks.

We finally got to relax a bit over sandwiches and Perrier at the private salon of Vera Wang in the Garment District. That is the way the entire day went.

The trends I saw overall leaned towards a certain softness. I saw fewer strapless ball gowns than I have in years. The mermaid silhouette and the sheath were also strong. As with anything some designers do those styles better than others. Flowers are in most collections. There were large silk flowers, embroidered flowers, re-embroidered flowers, appliquéd flowers, cutwork flowers, tiny flowers and beaded flowers. I can’t think of a single collection where they didn’t bloom.

I have so much news and information to share that I will be blogging for weeks. That’s all for tonight though; the Wedding Diva is off to the Martha Stewart party at Tavern on the Green.

Hello from New York!! I promised you all the latest from the Wedding Channel Couture Show and here you go.

I am here this week with my old friends Tony and Gipsy Williams, publishers of Enchanted Brides Magazine. We hit the ground running at 11:00 yesterday and didn’t stop until after 10!!. So far we have seen four collections and loved every one.

We started the day at Ivonne de la Vega’s suite. Her designs are gorgeous and incredibly designed in a way to flatter real women. Not only did she have her bridal collection but also her evening gowns. There was one sea green chiffon gown that I just loved. You have to see her collection if you get the chance.

Next it was off to St. Pucchi. Rani is a master of detail and this collection is no exception. Over all the collection has an organic feel, you could almost imagine the wedding of an ice queen in a forest in Narnia. Whether it was beaded vines or mutli-layered cut work the details were amazing. There was also a color I hadn’t seen in her collection before, maize, a golden beige. It was a nice departure from all the ivories and blush out there. This collection is on of the prettiest I have seen from St.Pucchi. I took a ton of detail shots to use in an article for my friends the cake decorators. Believe me, these details will start showing up on cakes in the next year.

Then it was time for the runway at Ramona Keveza’s suite at the Waldorf.
As always, the collection was a study in timeless designs in the most wonderful fabrics imaginable. Which got me thinking about what it is that makes couture gowns different. Yes the designs are amazing as is the workmanship, but really, a lot has to do with the fabrics. They are lighter and move better, they drape and hang better, and they feel more sumptuous against your skin. No matter how good the cut or the designer, cheap fabric will ruin it every time.

Finally time for a bit of dinner and a rest for our tired tootsies. We stopped by Youlin’s suite to get her,(that’s Youlin’s picture at the top of the post) and then hooked up with Janell Berte and off to our favorite for Thai food, Red Garlic. Yum. That’s Youlin’s picture at the top of the post.They also have the absolute best chocolate soufflé in the city Janell and Youlin are a riot. Some how we got off on a riff about dogs and their names. Someone showing at the Essex House has a dog named Stiches. Janell has two dogs, Weaver and Tailor who replaced the late Lacy and is acquiring a new puppy named Zipper… do you see a pattern here? Oh, those designers.

This morning we start with Justina MaCaffrey and have a show every hour on the hour until 9:00 tonight. If your Wedding Diva is still alive and kickin’ tonight I’ll let you know what wonders I saw.

One more thing before I forget… Amanda, I love my bracelet. I picked up the lapis bracelet I ordered from A. Jaron Designs last week and I am enchanted. It would be soooooooo easy to spend my entire paycheck with her.

Last night’s Debi Awards held at the Field Museum were thrilling and I was so honored to be in the presence of so many wonderful and talented people. Before I even begin I have to say, no group of people knows how to dress better for a special event than those in the bridal industry, after all they know this kind of fashion like it was their life. Oh yeah, it is their life. I saw the most beautiful gowns and jewelry you can imagine. Let’s have a big hand for the crowd and how pretty it was.

Your Wedding Diva has a confession to make. I couldn’t fit a pen in my tiny evening bag so I am working from memory here, my apologies to the winners in the Prom and Flower Girl categories. If you know who the winners of those two awards are please leave it as a comment.

Drum Roll Please…..

The 2006 Debi Award winners are..

• Accessories———————-Salon Shoes
• Special Occasion—————Montage by Mon Cheri
• Headpieces———————–Bel Aire Veils
• Bridesmaids———————–Bill Levkoff
• Bridal /Moderate—————–Allure
• Bridal Designer——————-Paloma Blanca
• Bridal/Couture——————–Monique Lhullier

Congratulations to each and every one of you. See you next year.

For my readers that don’t deal in bridal fashion, I have an interview scheduled with the event planner for last nights soiree as soon as mart is over. I promise to post the complete rundown and all the info behind the bash.

In my search for the new and unique at the Chicago Market I seem to be stumbling over the most fun must have accessories. From guest books with bling to fabulous feathers for both hair and gown there are some really hot designers here willing to not just step outside the box but to leap joyfully out of it.

As promised I wanted to tell you about this seasons collection from Aalexis. My readers that follow me on MySpace already know about the cutting edge designs Lisa Levin has put together. The Great Gatsby Collection is the perfect choice for the Hollywood Glam look, ring pillows and guest books in lovely silks with fab mini brooches as accents. Then there is the Breakfast at Tiffany collection with black velvet ribbons for that Uptown feel. Their products are some of the best made I have seen and are made entirely in the USA. Only a small part of the Aalexis line is available on the internet so check your local salon for a complete viewing.

I can’t seem to get enough of the feathers at market this season. If you think they are as fun as I do be sure to give Lori London a look. I loved her flowers made out of feathers, from small enough to double as a boutonnière to large enough to be a small hat. All are designed for double duty, when you flip them over the back has both a hairpin and a small crocheted loop that will fit over a covered button on a gown. How cool is that? You could easily add that needed zing to a plain gown and then carry the theme to your attendants hair and groomsman’s lapel.

I have often gazed in wonder at the collection from the UK tiara and jewelry firm Halo and wished that there was a collection as different and unique but widely available here in the US. Well I found one, TigerLilly is relatively new to the bridal market but is coming on strong. They are in 60 salons so far and after this market and New York I wouldn’t be surprised if that doubled. Their pieces can best be described as organic in look. They certainly are not your granny’s tiara. Bright, light and sassy is how I would describe them. To top it off, all of the tiaras convert to necklaces so you never have to stop wearing them. As much as we’d like to, few of us can get away with wearing a tiara with jeans and flip-flops!

Just as beautiful was the collection across the aisle at Haute Bride. If you want a true feel of Hollywood Glam for your wedding jewelry look no further. These pieces are red carpet worthy, big, beautiful seductive baubles. One piece that particularly caught my eye was a multi-strand pearl necklace with a clasp on the front and another larger one that draped down the back. Hot,hot,hot for those off the shoulder gowns.

This is the reason you should never let the Wedding Diva loose at market!

Seriously, the fabulous hats at Brenda Waites Bolling Couture Hat Design mesmerized me. Her designs take hats to a new level. If you are considering a garden wedding, her designs are a must see. Sadly I do not have a website for her but you can get more information by email at brendawaitesbolling@comcast.net.

Today was a sea of white. So much of what I saw looked like everything else I saw. But there were a few exceptions.

Eugenia Couture has introduced some beautiful gowns in their new more moderately priced Nitsa line. As I was looking over the gowns I had to ask the designer Eugenia Vasiliadis if she danced. (She does) Her creations need to be danced in. I could practically see them twirling on the dance floor. The Swarovski crystal details are made to sparkle in the moonlight. The skirts of her gowns are light enough to dance on their own. If you picture dancing the night away at your wedding you have to give these gowns a try.

I ran into an old buddy Amanda Jaron of A.Jaron Designs. As always her jewelry blew me away. (so much so that I ordered two lapsi lazu pieces). While I was in her booth I also found out that she is designing pieces for the Kelly Chase Couture Collection. I think this is brilliant. Just think, instead of a marginal piece of costume bling on your wedding gown that bling was REAL jewelry that you could wear every day of your life. Cool. Not only that, but Amanda is also designing the accessories to compliment the jewels on the gown down to the accent broaches for the bouquets. This is so new that they don’t yet have pictures. The have a photo shoot scheduled at the end of the month and Kelly and Amanda both promised to send images for me to share. This is huge.

I also stopped by the booth of upcoming bridal gown designer Songi and had an interesting conversation with his pattern maker Catina Robertson. One of the beauties of buying a gown from a small house is their ability to customize. Songi is still small enough that they can do ‘made to measure’ gowns. If you have a body type that is hard to fit, look to the smaller houses for the custom fit you need. I also learned a lot about construction from Catina. When she showed me the duchess silk lining of the built in corset I wanted to wear it, I wanted to feel it against my skin. The seams were so beautifully finished and the construction so light that it was almost sensual. These are gowns you never want to take off.

I saw so much more today including Aalexis Accessories and a fab new embroidered good collection, but kids, the Diva is tired!!! I had too much fun at the Conte Nast cocktail party and then off to dinner with Amanda, Kelly & Chase. I will be back tomorrow afternoon with the latest up date.

See you then.