Who Does Not Love Vera Wang!?

It’s no surprise that Vera Wang is celebrated for her impeccable eye for style: She started her career at the fashion bible Vogue, beginning as an assistant and working her way to senior editor. After 16 years at the magazine, Wang left to hone her design skills while working for Ralph Lauren. In 1990, she opened her own bridal shop in New York City. Over the years, her business ­– and love for creating gorgeous wedding dresses — grew in tandem. As Wang explained in a recent interview with Women’s Wear Daily, “bridal became my passion.”

Vera Wang was a guest on Oprah recently and gave viewers a sneak peek at her new dress line for David’s Bridal, White by Vera Wang. Each wedding gown in the collection, which also includes bridesmaid dresses, is priced between $600 to $1400 and are sized from 0 to 14 initially.  However, a mid-year rollout will include select bridal styles in additional sizes from 16-26. 

As with Wang’s couture collection, the dresses will feature hand-cut details and come in a wide variety of fabrics: lace, tulle, taffeta, satin-faced organza, organza, crinkle chiffon, charmeuse, and bobbin net. Colors will include soft white, ivory, champagne and blush.  So again, No surprise that Vera Wang is at the top of my list!  Her Spring 2011 wedding gowns are so soft and full of feminine quality. I love all of the layering and ruching and the subtle exquisite details. And with nudes, grays and blush colors added to the palette, these gowns definitely don’t disappoint.

Ms. Wang’s wedding gowns could be said as the are the most beautiful gowns in the world.  I’ve loved Vera Wang’s style from the first time I saw it. I had a dream that one day when I got married, I could wear a Vera Wang wedding gown beside my honey. I think it is easy to think that each girl may also have the same dream, if you love this style, if you know much about Vera Wang.  She was inspired to create this new collection, because, according to the website, she believes “a wedding dress represents more than just a ‘dress.’ It embodies a bride’s lifelong dream and her own sense of who she is.”

The White by Vera Wang line will debut at David’s Bridal stores in February 2011…don’t miss it!

Lebanese Weddings – A Grand Affair

Weddings in Lebanon are truly elaborate on a scale unlike any other in grandeur, cost, and entertainment. The Middle Eastern culture and Lebanese specifically, believe there is no spending ceiling because there is no cost when it comes to celebration and entertaining their loved ones with music, dance, and copious amounts of food. These elements combine to create a spectacle of an affair and tend to be the reason why the party lasts till dawn!

 Celebrations go on for 3 days and simple or grand, a Lebanese wedding isn’t truly Lebanese without a ‘zaffeh’, the act of escorting the bride to her husband, in celebration of their holy marriage. Even the ‘zaffeh’ is a form of entertainment, celebration and dance because, on the third day, the groom is led by a group of dancers, as they play music, sing and dance on their way to the bride’s house.

Entertainment is an essential and important priority in Lebanese weddings. Music and dance are the hallmarks of celebration and fun in Lebanese families and culture.

 A Middle Eastern wedding celebration, is one where the dancer has a special place. Usually a belly dancer or singer will entertain the guests and more luxurious weddings will have more than one entertainer.

As you can clearly see, the Lebanese truly believe a wedding is a celebration and there is no costs to keeping guests entertained.

The Sangeet Party

Indian Weddings are not solely about serious rituals and customs, they are also full of several fun filled rituals and designed to contain a scope of entertainment. Among all the pre-wedding celebrations, the Sangeet party is the most enjoyable one. The Sangeet ceremony known as, ‘Gaun’, is celebrated on an elaborate scale making it a very grand affair.

 The Sangeet party is an Indian tradition during which the family and friends shower the bride and groom with dance, music, and laughs. The sangeet party usually takes place in a large hall elaborately decorated and involves traditional dance, known as Garba, and dandia raas, dancing with sticks.

The decoration choices for a Sangeet celebration can vary. A traditional Sangeet decoration includes long beautiful drapes in rich embroidery with mirror work adding a special touch. You can make the decoration ethnic using colors like red, orange, maroon, and purple drapes with some gold glittering touches. Flowers like roses, marigolds, orchids, gerberas, give a special touch to the decorations and roses tend to be favored.

A western take on the Sangeet decoration can include, netted drapes and the use of silver in place of gold. Flowers like baby roses, orchid, lily or carnations tend to be used in western Sangeet decorations and these days, even things like heart shaped balloons with nets are added.

Traditionally only the women celebrated this ceremony but nowadays it is a co-ed affair making it all the more fun and interesting!

pictures courtesy of dariabishop.com

Drink of the Week! The Wandering Cloud Highball

For a great way to personalize your wedding… have a wedding drink created just for you! Here is an idea for a great signature drink that was created for a couple’s wedding and represented their personality. They wanted a drink that was not too sweet and is suitable for both females and males while also using fresh raspberries from their garden.

• 1 1/2 oz. 10 Cane Rum
• 1/2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz. organic ginger tea syrup
• 2 oz. all-natural tonic water

Directions: Shake the first three ingredientsin a mixing glass with ice and strain into an ice-filled brandy snifter.  Top off with the tonic water.

Garnish Fresh mint and home-grown raspberries

• 1 1/2 oz. 10 Cane Rum
• 1/2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz. organic ginger tea syrup
• 2 oz. all-natural tonic water

Directions: Shake the first three ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into an ice-filled brandy snifter.  Top off with the tonic water.

Garnish Fresh mint and home-grown raspberries

courtesy of weddingcocktaildesign.com

Traveling to Lebanon- Part 1

Lebanon is a great place to visit and an even better place to get married. Boasting a plethora of choices, you can wed in the mountains, beaches, city, and historical sights of a city drenched in time and beauty. Below is a mini travel and venue guide for marrying in Lebanon and remember, choosing a venue is dependant upon your taste and of course the weather!

Beach Weddings: There are many venues surrounding the Mediterranean Sea that capture the beauty of the water and the exotic locale. The beaches in Lebanon are breathtaking and stay warm from April until October and even sometimes November.

You can also enjoy a beautiful sunset wedding overlooking Al Rousheh a very historical spot in the beaches of Beirut.

Mountain Weddings: The mountains of Lebanon, like Faraya, boast gorgeous views and venues for a wedding and can be used in both the summer and winter months.

For those who envision a white wedding, the mountains of Lebanon are a gorgeous setting and full of natural beauty.

A Different Take: Other venues include: cathedrals, castles, and the gorgeous homes that portray the history, grandeur, and beauty of Lebanon all at once.

Night Weddings: For the couple who wants something a little more fun or a wedding at night, the city of Beirut boasts multiple venue choices.

A venue speaks volumes about a couples taste and style on their wedding day. For a destination wedding, Lebanon is one of the most historical places you can choose that gives you an abundance of choice when it comes to venues from the mountains with snow to the Mediterranean Sea and even castles!