Wedding Show Bonanza!

This weekend saw two wedding shows and some major networking for Seamstress of Avalon!

Indie Wed was Saturday, and I had such a good time! I can't express how special it is to meet and talk with other artists about the amazing things they do; unlike many shows, you aren't talking with a representative of a huge hotel or design company, but the person who actually created the thing you're looking at. There was such a wonderful creative feel in the air, and everything we saw was unique and beautiful.

Tabitha and I both wore Seamstress pieces in our hair and I carried my brand-spanking-new business cards, and every single person who liked what we were wearing got a card. I went through quite a few, and it was pretty cool;)

Best fashion show, hands down. We didn't get a seat, but from our vantage point right on the side of the runway we had a perfect view of every dress. What's even better was that they were all independant designers; no cookie-cutter satin dresses that you've seen a million times.

A shout out to the very adorable Audey dresses, designed by Jess Audey. I wanted to steal every single one, for a picnic in May in the park. Cute prints and delightful colored petticoats.

Oh, Emily Rohm. I have loved your Etsy shop for a while now, but I had no idea just how beautiful your pieces truly were. This in purple for Tabitha's wedding, and I'm all set;)

Dame Couture was absolutely lovely! I wasn't familiar with their work, but I'm checking them out now! And their booth was fantastic too:

Hats, brooches, and vintage-style dresses. Heaven;)

Of course, there was more than just fashion at the show. Stationers, milliners (hello Love, Lulu Mae!), soap and candle-makers, bakeries like the marvelous Tipsy Cake, and even candy companies, as well as a few entirely unique photographers like Vavoom Pinups and a torch singer named Pearls Mahone (isn't that name great?).

I loved the displays that the event planners and floral designers at Delicate Creature and Pollen put out, and they gave us all kinds of ideas. Look at that boutonniere from Pollen! So cute!

Float Paperie definitely had a frontrunner for invitations, and I think Tabitha and A will be giving Andrea a call to set up a consultation soon. Just beautiful.

The Ravenswood Arts Center was one of the stars of the day too, and all around the hall there were classic cars displayed that just begged for a great pinup photo shoot!

We did go to another show on Sunday, the crowded and crazy Luxury Bridal Expo at the Hyatt O'Hare. The highlight? Seeing my favorite dress by Love by Enzoani walk the runway:

It was a great weekend, and I was glad to meet with a lot of talented people and pass out a lot of cards. I hope a few more people stop by the shop!

New Favorite Shop: Joan Shum

My favorite new bridal find is a delightful shop featuring the designs of Joan Shum. If you're a regular bridal blog reader you've probably seen her designs starting to pop up in some of the best places; I discovered her over on Etsy and then started noticing her everywhere.

It's not often you see a bridal designer who can kick ass at separates, but Joan absolutely does. As a historical costumer who has built several corsets in my time, I know how tough they can be to do well, and these corsets are truly exquisite. Add to that the different skirt options and the variety of underlays with the top, and you have nearly endless possibilities. Some of my faves:

White Dahlia

How chic is this? It's a corseted jacket with an amazing ruched tulle underskirt; imagine this for a fall or winter wedding, with a little vintage fur stole and birdcage veil. Love it.

I am not usually a fan of short bridal gowns; I would certainly ordinarily never consider one for myself. This is the first time I have ever seen one that so delighted me I could imagine wearing it! Look at the amazing detail on the Lovely Jane skirt:

Those tulle pinwheels are to die for, and the little pleated flounce? I'm kind of obsessed with pleats, after my Money Dress adventure;)

This is just gorgeous. Most of her designs are fully customizable, from the corset choices to the length of the skirt. I think I'll be keeping an eye on Joan Shum's designs in the future . . .

Chicago Bridal Expo Madness!

Yesterday, Tabitha, her fiance, and myself all attended the Chicago Bridal Expo at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. Let me just say: Holy crap. It was the closest I ever want to be to that many crazed brides ever again. They gave them stickers to wear, but you could easily identify them by the wild, staring eyes, hungry for cake, dress, centerpiece, photo, and venue pamphlets. I think we were lucky to escape with our lives.

Seriously, though, there were an ass-load of people there, and we all paraded down aisles of tables, gazing longingly at things that in the normal world we would have happily ignored: things like linen napkins, leather photo albums, or tiny petit-fours. Yet, in Bridal Expo-land, these things become intensely important. Look! It's another book of some anonymous bride's photos! Over here is yet another table covered in invitations! Fondant! My god, look at the fondant! The tables were five and six deep with brides, mothers-of-the-bride, maids-of-honor, and a few husbands-to-be, but they mostly walked around looking like Bambi after his mother was shot, carrying large, overstuffed bags brimming with pamphlets.

Yes, it seemed like everyone in that room wanted to give you a card an a pamphlet, and boy did we collect a lot of them. Everything from barns to boutiques, spas to vacations in Spain, we got them all. We also tasted so many different kinds of cake, tart, and tiny eclair that after we left we immediately had to eat large amounts of beef to counteract all the sugar we'd been fed.

There were some really cool vendors there, however. One of the best parts of the day for Tab and I involved a place called Pristine Image; they were offering free bridal makeovers of hair and makeup, and I quickly signed Tabitha up. We waited a few minutes, but then she sat down and started getting primped and pampered. She looked a little abashed at all the attention; her silver "VIB" sticker meant everybody we talked to was focused on her, and she wasn't used to it. I told her, "Buck up, buttercup! This is all about you!"

A lovely girl named (I believe) Magdelena did Tabitha's hair in a charming side-sweep style; all she needed was a big white flower and a bird-cage veil, and she was ready for her close-up:)

I wasn't planning to have mine done; I figured this was for brides, and I didn't want to take a chair from one of the important girls there. But, a chair opened up while Tabitha was still having her hair done, and the stylist asked me if I wanted my hair done too. After a little protest I sat down, and the fabulous Robert got to work.

We chatted and laughed while he got my hair red-carpet ready, and I was suitably impressed with the results. In fact, we liked them so much, we're going to look them up when it comes time to get hair and makeup for the big day!

There were a few bridal boutiques there, and there were lovely dresses on display. Tab took notes and pictures, and we're going to be making an appointment for her to try on styles pretty soon, though she's having a friend make her dress. Thankfully, it seems pick-up skirts are on their way out (finally!), and Hollywood glamour is making a comeback.

I fell in love with a beautiful one-shouldered purple dress, in satin with a chiffon overlay. When we asked who it was by, my champagne taste struck again: Badgley Mischka Bridesmaid. This is probably a $900 dress. Oh well.

The below is probably a Love by Enzoani. Lovely, though of course I'm still hooked on the super-expensive dress!

The fashion show was a bit of a let-down, mostly because they spent so much time talking, talking, talking. A. was ready to poke his eyes out by the time the first dress walked the runway, and we only stayed for about half the show.

The dresses were pretty nice, but Tabitha didn't see one that jumped out and shouted to be gotten. It was mostly a tedious experience, and we left to go to the VIP lounge after a half-hour or so.

The little VIP lounge was pretty cool, with table vignettes set up by Edved Events, who handles wedding coordination for the Hyatt and others. We ate more tiny cream-puffs and listened to one of their salespeople extol the virtues or letting someone else handle the details of the day, which sounds pretty wonderful to me, though probably cost-prohibitive. I can see myself that Friday morning, setting out twenty centerpieces, arranging tent cards and favors, and assembling the wedding cake all before rushing back to get myself ready.

All in all, it was a pretty whirlwind day, but we did come away with a few useful ideas and some very nice hairdos. It does kinda make me glad I'm not the one getting married though . . .

Favorite Site Tuesdays!

All photos courtesy Kate Bennett Bridal Designs

This week's featured site is the webpage for my friend, the extremely talented bridal designer, Kate Bennett. Based in Detroit, MI, her designs are a lovely mix of traditional and whimsical, elegant and playful. I almost never find a bridal designer whose designs all inspire me to say, "I would wear that," but Kate is one of the few. On top of that, "Little Kate" is one of the most fun people you'll meet; I wish she didn't live so far from me, because I'd love to hang with her on a regular basis!

2008 Collection- Azalea

I love tea-length dresses for less formal weddings! This is sweet and elegant at the same time; perfect for the low-key bride who wants an afternoon shindig with just her best friends around;)

Couture Collection: Rachel

You knew I had to go for this, if for the fascinator alone;) The lace and beadwork is just lovely; Kate is a veteran of the Guilde of St. George at Bristol, so she knows her beading . . .

I cannot praise her highly enough, really. I have attempted bridal before, always with highly stressful, nearly disasterous results. I may be able to costume with aplomb, but bridal gives me shivers, and my hat's off to a friend who does it so marvelously!