Some of favorite dresses from NYC Bridal Market

Unfortunately due to a tight schedule, I was unable to attend what we in the wedding business know as NYC Bridal Market. Bridal Market is similar to main stream fasion week. All of the wedding gown designers show their new lines for the next season. Although I was unable to attend in person, my friends who were there kept me updated on twitter.

So I wanted to share some of my favorites over the next few blog posts. First up, Marchesa! One of my favorite dress designers in general, I was in LOVE with their Fall 2012 line.

I absolutely am obsessed with the necklines, and the shift from the same boring strapless gowns we have seen. So delicate and feminine, what isn't to love?

Here are my top pics from the line:





Images from Marchesa
Here is a look at the fun I had attending bridal market last year.

Lacy travels to Atlanta..

Hard to believe that my trip to Atlanta has been over a month ago. But I am finally coming up for air, and wanted to tell you all about this fabulous event. I was honored and humbled to be asked to be a presenter for an exclusive "Event Planners Private Event" hosted by the very talented stylist Kori Smith, owner of SKS (Stylist Kori Smith.) Kori partnered with a local event planner,Janice Blackmon and they co-hosted this event. Janice was so lovely and organized! From one planner to another planner she ROCKED!

Here I am with Kori & JaniceThis event was all about pampering event planners for the evening, and showcasing makeovers. Along, that line Kori asked if I would speak to the group about "making over my business, and becoming and event stylist." (here is a link to Kori's recap)The event was held at the gorgeous Villa Christina.
Kori is a very very talented makeup and hair stylist, and I am proud to call her a friend! Here she is working her magic on one of the ladies selected for a mini 15 minute makeover.
Here are some pictures of me presenting.. Speaking for 30 minutes can often seem scary, but the crowd was phenominal, and packed with talented event planners/designer, etc. I had so much fun sharing my experiences with them. Everyone in that room epitomized southern hospitality!
The crowd was having fun during a short exercise I asked them to do.My right hand and Lead Event Planner Sarah went with me. We had a great time, and I just had to share this adorable picture of us in which we are actually out of our black suit "uniform".
The decor was goregous, from the linens, to the floral, to the cake! It was such a wonderful event, and I had so much fun.These are actually cakes!
We were treated to schwag bags full of hair and body products! What girl doesn't love products?
The attendees also had the great pleasure of being entertained by the talented Soulphonics & Ruby Velle. (here is a snip from the internet of their sound) Holy cow are they great..soul at it's best. Ruby was so stunning in her sapphire blue dress.
Thank you Kori, Janice, and everyone else! Sarah and I had a wonderful time in Atlanta and met so many wonderful people.
All of these fantabulous images are courtesy of the very talented In The Moment Photographs

Lacy Branch Events is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011

St Louis, MO - 07/05/2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that Lacy Branch Events is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for Event Planning, Coordination, and Design. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding.

Lacy Branch Events has 5.0 out of 5.0 total reviews on WeddingWire. Reviews by our newlywed clients include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with our business and staff. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making the most informed decisions for their big day.

"We are delighted to unveil the 5th annual WeddingWire Rated program," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. "Lacy Branch Events has made a commitment to capturing their clients experiences on the nation's leading wedding review site."

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available. The WeddingWire Rated program provides Lacy Branch Events with a simple platform to capture customer feedback from their wedding planning experience. Newly engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews for Lacy Branch Events on WeddingWire.com. We would like to thank our newlyweds for our WeddingWire Rated 2011 recognition.

For more information, please visit Lacy Branch Events on WeddingWire. For more information on WeddingWire Rated 2011, please visit www.weddingwire.com
About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including ProjectWedding.com, MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Weddingbee.com, and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Classic Wedding Dresses, from the LBE bride to Kate Middleton and Reese Witherspoon

By: Jenni Schrader LBE Intern

The white wedding dress trend started with Queen Victoria in 1840, and in 1981 Princess Diana brought in the classic princess bodice with the bouffant skirt and 25 foot train. How will Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding dress be translated for the brides of today? Trends showing up in designers’ collections such as Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier are: the lace sleeves, sleeker silhouettes, second dresses, color, and Victorian influences.

Kate Middleton’s stunning carrickmacross lace dress was done by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. This dress worn for the royal wedding this spring has impacted the designs and trends for 2012 wedding dresses, and will likely carry inspiration into designer’s lines until the next royal wedding. Speculator’s anticipated a modest dress for Kate previous to the wedding, and their predictions were absolutely correct. I believe the modest dress has brought long sleeve's back into style to stay for many seasons to come. The carrickmacross lace used for these sleeves originated from Ireland and it created a very whimsical and Victorian feel to the dress, which is sure to be mimicked in other designers lines.

Not only will Kate’s awe inspiring first dress impact their lines, but the trend of the second dress she embraced will continue to flourish in the wedding dress market. Although much simpler in nature, the sleek silhouette of her 2nd dress was very similar to that of the ceremony dress. This sleek style was very different from the bouffant sleeves and large tulle skirt of Princess Diana’s dress that coined the “princess style” description of a wedding dress in 1981. Kate's dress is bringing the classic sleek wedding dress back into style, however the bouffant “princess style” dress is still very common in bridal boutiques today.



Although Kate Middleton’s dress has had a significant impact on wedding dress trends, Hollywood surely still has a large impact on the market trends as well. Color has slowly been sneaking into magazines in the past few seasons, but in a way has still had a scandalous reputation. Prior to 1840 when Queen Victoria made the white dress a wedding staple, color wedding dresses were more expected rather than being the exception as they are now. Although Kate Middleton did not choose to bring this trend back, Reese Witherspoon wearing a blush Monique Lhuillier wedding dress gave color dresses a more traditional reputation because of her well known classic taste. The underlying corset bodice of Reeses’ dress also reflects the Victorian era when color dresses were worn.

Long sleeves, second dresses, sleek silhouettes, color dresses, and Victorian influences are sure to make for a simple and elegant array of dresses in wedding magazines for 2012. Check out some of these gorgeous dresses on Lacy Branch Events past brides'.

A Look Back on Some Elegant Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

By Jenni Schrader: LBE Intern
We love eclectic centerpieces! As you will see in these pictures of our weddings, our centerpieces are far from your traditional monotonous bouquets. Today we are mixing things up with varying flowers and vases, and throwing in props to create unique designs for every couple.

Our room decor is far from your grandma's monotonous look alike tables. At LBE, Lacy works with our florists to design a variety of floral arrangements with varying heights and colors to create depth and drama in our fabulous reception venues. With the varying centerpieces, adding scattered candles, and unique props such as picture frame’s transforms the table from simply functional to simply fabulous. With all of these different elements on each table it makes for a lot of work to coordinate the centerpieces alone. That’s where Lacy Branch Events comes in! We ensure that your tables get the chic eclectic look you’re trying to achieve instead of looking cluttered and messy. Check out the collages of some of Lacy Branch Events past weddings that I've put together for you!

Selecting the right number of Bridesmaids for your Wedding Party

How big is too big for a wedding party? We discuss it in today's video blog.

We hope to help shed some light on the topic of large wedding parties from a wedding planners perspective.

Selecting Your Reception Venue

Today we give you some tips in selecting the perfect reception venue.

Thanks to everyone who is tuning in, and keep your questions coming!

On the video blog... the "B" word... Budget

Today we are discussing how to establish your wedding budget.



If you have any topics you would like to hear about be sure to let us know. Stay tuned for the next installment on Wednesday!

Planetarium...Hot Pink, and Green Wedding but funky?

Hard to believe that it has been almost SIX months, since Sarah & Colin's wedding. We truly enjoy all of our clients, and their weddings. But we had an extra dose of enjoyment while designing this one!

The couple was a riot, the bride in particular. She kept us laughing, and was truly a girl after our own heart. From start to finish, she wanted larger than life, and bold and blingy! She had one requirement.. a strolling table had to be serving appetizers at her reception. We told her, NO problem. The rest is history.

The ceremony was held at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. The reception at the Planetarium. Our largest challenge for this wedding was the guest count, and how it kept creeping up. The fact was, that both venue's could handle the original guest list but was about to burst at the seams. Sarah and her mom Jane (one of the sweetest mothers we have ever had the pleasure of working with) got it under control, so crisis averted.

Ok, let's talk details! Sarah had dreamed about her wedding being pink and green since she was a little child. So we began designing around those colors, quickly I learned that the groom Colin was part of a band and was planning to wear Converse with his tux. Immediately, it was clear, pink and green, for this couple was far to preppy. I took a deep breath and suggested bringing black into the equation to offset and make it seem a bit more modern. The couple LOVED the idea and so began the design.

Next, it was discovered that Sarah totally was into chandeliers. PERFECT! The chandelier (black at that) was used in lieu of a monogram, it became the symbol of their wedding. On the stationery, from save the dates to invites, on the aisle arrangements, on the wedding canopy, and at the reception.




Three heights of centerpieces were used to create interest. Our friends at Parties & Props, Ltd. created the strolling table that entertained the guests during the cocktail hour. They also created a lounge fit for a princess and a rocker! The lounge was green and black and full of crystal.

One of our favorite parts was the one of a kind cake we helped design. The stripes on the cake mimic the stripes on the save the date cards! The cake sat atop a pink metallic shag linen, with a completely blinged out pink swarovski "A" cake topper, perfect for the bride.

The guests danced the night away to the music of Groove Thang!

Thank you Sarah and Colin, and Jane for reminding us how much fun we get to have doing this job. You will forever be in our hearts!

Here is a picture of our team and of Lacy goofing around


The Dream Team that made it possible:Event Stylist: Lacy Branch Events
Cake: The Cakery
Catering: Patty Long
Ceremony: Jewel Box
Ceremony Music: Rosewood Ensemble
Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Makeup & Hair: Tami Scott Studio
Lounge Decor & Ceremony Canopy: Parties & Props, Ltd.
Photography: Kelly Park Photography
Rentals & Lighting: The Aries Co
Reception: James S McDonnell Planetarium
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Transportation: JED Limousine
Videography: I Do Films

Video Blog 4 - more questions about what you can and can't do on your wedding day

Thanks to viewers feedback and questions, today we address the following:

Do I have to have a receiving line?
What about a ring bearer or flower girl? Do I need them?
I feel awkward making my friends catch the bouquet, do we have to do it?

Find out in this installment of our video blog!



Keep the questions coming! Next on the blog, establishing the "B" word..BUDGET

Till next time...

xoxo
Lacy

Video Blog .. What can I wear on my wedding day?

We definitely felt the love after our first two installments of our video blog!
Thank you to everyone who sent us your questions. We are going to just scratch the surface in this video surrounding what is acceptable and not acceptable for today's weddings. The questions we got were surrounding attire and traditions. So that our video blog doesn't become a movie, we will just discuss attire today.

So once again... THANK YOU all for your support.

Video Blog Installment 2

We hope you enjoyed our first installment of our video blog, but that was just an introduction. Here is the first tip! Hope you enjoy

PS...remember if there is anything you want us to discuss comment and let us know

Our first shot at Video Blogging

... so after many months of people asking if we would do a video blog we have decided to jump in! We are not videographers,or cinematographers so bare with us. We hope you enjoy our tips and insight.

Couple's Room Reveal Captured...

We love to see our clients reactions to the finished product for their weddings. Yesterday we were pleasantly surprised with our friends at Millennium Productions sent us this video from our clients Katie & Todd's wedding. This video is a great representation of what we see with our clients each weekend. We get to see the bride's eyes light up when the room is all put together. We got to relive Katie, Todd, and her mom Rhonda's excitement.

We like our clients to get this special time together to appreciate all of the hard work and months of planning that was done to make the room come to life. We also strongly encourage our clients to hire a professional videographer for their day. We love our photographers, but the videographers just add an additional element to the day that can be heard and watched over and over.

Thanks Millennium for putting this together, and helping both us and our clients relive the day.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

You can also see the recap of event, and the allstar team that made it happen on our blog .
Part 1
Part 2

Bridesmaid dresses..

I love when from time to time personal and professional lives come together. I absolutely love The Limited for clothing. Recently The Limited tossed their hat in the bridal attire ring. I have browsed through their bridesmaids selections, and have to say "wow". The dresses are so cute, modern, and fresh. I would highly recommend checking the site out if you are looking for dresses.
Bow One Shoulder Dress ITEM #3219676



Mia Strapless Dress ITEM #3216717

Click here to check it out Heck I would recommend looking at their site, if you are in the market for a stylish special occasion dress that is easy on the wallet. Happy Shopping!

Jacelyn & Colin's Vintage Vineyard Wedding

It was such a thrill to work with Jacelyn and Colin on their wedding. They had a large portion of the planning done when they came to us. However, Jacelyn had hoped we could further assist her with putting it all together. As soon, as we found out that both the ceremony and reception would be at Chaumette, we were sold.

Chaumette is a beautiful winery a little over a 1 hour drive from St. Louis in Ste Genevieve, MO. The drive alone is breathtaking, but the winery is every more gorgeous. The couple and their 150+ guests would have to travel, in essence making this a destination wedding, and we were up to the task! The couple knew relatively quickly in their planning that they would want to entertain all of their guests, and not be figuring out logisitics of vendor deliveries.

The ceremony was held in the most adorable chapel that is on the grounds at Chaumette. It is in pristine condition, and was actually moved from the St Louis area! Following the ceremony, the couple was whisked away by an antique car, complete with cans trailing behind, and all.

For the design elements, our beautiful bride wanted to encorporate vintage items like pearls and old picture frames. She wanted a romantic reception, and wanted to down play the wall to wall french doors that allowed dramatic views of the wine country. Normally these views would be priceless, but because it would not be dark until late in the evening, the decision was made to pipe and drape the entire room and use uplighting to ensure drama and romance.


We utilized high, medium, and low centerpieces on different table linens, to further the intrigue. In these centerpieces, we used antique picture frames, pearls, and other eclectic items the bride had on hand. This decor really complimented the already eclectic and vintage decor of Chaumette.

The bride and groom and all of their guests were smiling ear to ear that day. The weather was PHENOMENAL, and everyone was able to take advantage of all that Chaumette had to offer.


Congrats Jacelyn & Colin, and thank you for letting us be part of your big day!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Chapel
Reception:Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Photography: Vaeth Photography
Floral Design: Belli Fiori
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Entertainment: Spectrum Band
Rentals & Lighting: The Aries Company
Linens: BBJ Linen

Designer Spotlight.. Jenny Lee

Every so often I come across a dress or a designer that really inspires me. Although in St Louis not all designers can be found, I still enjoy researching designers globally. This has been helpful a few times where our clients asked if we had an opinion on a designer that they are in love with.

Jenny Lee first came on my radar a couple of years ago on a trip to LA. Jenny Lee has not disappointed me yet, and the design this season are no exception.
Love this dress is from Jenny Lee’s Spring 2011 collection, which is fabulous by the way. The style number is 1101



Here are some excerpts from their site, that speak to why I love them and how unique it is.

Design Aesthetic
"The fit and construction of Jenny Lee's gowns have always been comparable to Parisian haute couture. Each gown is handcrafted by a single person, from the very first stitch to the last. These elements coupled with the highest quality fabrics and superb pattern cutting skills come together to create the most sought after effect. A luxury brand carrying beautiful, sophisticated wedding gowns that always ensure a flattering and feminine silhouette; Jenny Lee has always made sure that each gown brings out the beauty of who is wearing it."
Quality Fit
"Here at Jenny Lee, we do not produce wedding dresses to standard set size specifications. We appreciate that the perfect fit of a gown is one of the most important elements, and we strive for perfection when we make all of our dresses.

When a bride selects a dress we work with the salon to get all of the bride's exact measurements, which we then incorporate into our specialized sizing specifications to create a one-of-a-kind fit. This is the closest to a "couture" experience a bride can get and ultimately shows in the finished product.

Our gowns are renowned for their fit and support. They are fully constructed both inside and out. Additionally, the gowns are fully lined with silk, so the bride will look and feel exceptional in a Jenny Lee dress."


This is especially exciting for people like many of us that are not blessed to be born 5'10 and a size 4. If you are looking for a great looking and perfect fitting dress, you should definitely check out Jenny Lee!

Real Wedding #2 Featured in Saint Louis Bride

We are over the moon excited, that Saint Louis Bride Magazine featured not 1 but 2 of our weddings in the Spring/Summer 2011 issue on sale now.

This wedding of Amina and Phillip was fun and delightful from the very beginning. We planned it mostly over the phone, with very very few in person meetings. Both the couple and Amina's mother lived out of state. From the first conversation we had, I knew they were a great fit for our company. Amina was sweet, funny, and loved all things blingy. Phillip was quiet but quite the funny man. We had such fun with them whenever they came in town.


The design was created around the color orange in the bridesmaid dresses. After we took a trip to the BBJ Linen Showroom, we ironed out which orange the groom was thinking and which shade of orange the bride was thinking they were. Mission accomplished and the design was born.

We designed three distinct tablescapes, that we achieved with different linens and floral centerpieces. On each table, we used custom made menu's and table numbers by Two Blue Doors, Inc. The table numbers are pictures of family members with the number of years they had been married listed. The menu's which were made to fit perfectly in the gold charger plates. Each entree selection was signified by the color of the menu.

For the table floral, we had three centerpieces to correspond with the linens. There was a lower, medium, and tall centerpiece. The tallest centerpiece consisted of branches, orchids, and lots of crystals to continue the glam factor.

In the main ballroom, we had a very warm and inviting lounge setup in the corner. This allowed guests who didn't want to dance, to escape from their dinner table and relax and have a conversation. Both the bride and her mom wanted to be surprised and entrusted us to come up with something "fabulous". I believe we succeeded, as during the room reveal Amina and Phillip loved it. We added a crystal beaded curtain to continue on the bling. thanks to Parties & Props, Ltd. We also placed lounge furniture and a firepit out on the terrace overlooking the St Louis arch and the Mississippi Riverfront. Guests were able to enjoy the outside while still being warm.

Thanks to our friends at Sisters Flowers, the bouquets were vivid and beautiful calla lilies. The bouquets contrasted perfectly to the bridesmaids orange dresses. The grooms party wore clean and crisp white tuxes, which also offered a beautiful contrast to the floral.

Thank you to Amina & Phillip for letting us be part of your big day!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral
Reception: Four Seasons Hotel St Louis
Cake: Four Seasons
Photography: Bobbi Brinkman Photography
Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Linens: BBJ Linen
Misc Decor Rental: Parties & Props, Ltd.