Wedding Wednesday | Chaviano Couture 2012 Collection "How Fair is Your Love"

The lovely Annette of Chaviano Couture has done it again - her 2012 Collection, "How Fair is Your Love", is breathtakingly beautiful!  It's ethereal and elegant all at the same time.  Here are a few of my favorites from the new line.

Ivy

Ginny

Natalie Bolero Jacket

Valentina

Lily Bodice

Enjoy the rest of the eye candy from the collection in the Chaviano Couture 2012 Lookbook!

baci loves. . . Vera Wang Spring 2013 Bridal Collection

Miss Vera has done it again - her Spring 2013 Bridal Collection is so breathtakingly beautiful and edgy (Bridal gowns in color?!?  Swoon!!) that I'm literally at a loss for words!  See some of my favorites below just to get a taste of what I mean :o)

| Cardinal strapless ballgown with hand-rolled floral detail skirt and horsehair trim |

| Dahlia strapless ballgown with notched neckline and lifted tulle skirt with crystal embroidered detail |

| Scarlett mermaid gown with tiered, micro–bias bodice and inverted flange skirt with abstract floral shoulder corsage detail |

| Dahlia strapless open back, V-neck ballgown with lifted tulle skirt and tiered flange, hand-cut petal embroidered |

| Scarlett strapless ballgown with tulle panel skirt and embellished flange appliqué and hand-rolled floral, Chantilly lace detail |

Handpicked | Wedding Dresses

I enjoyed looking for wedding dresses when it came to my big day, so I loved getting to find nine beautiful dresses to share with all of you!

1) Corsage One-Shoulder Gown from Ann Taylor - $450 - I love it, elegant and beautiful. Perfect for a beach wedding.

2) Ball Gown with Asymmetrically Draped Bodice Style from David's Bridal - $1,028 - If you have the money, please buy this gorgeous dress by Vera Wang. 

3) Strapless Faille with Sweetheart Draped Bodice Style from David's Bridal - ON SALE, $349 - I know I have talked about this dress before, but I still like it. I like the fact that it's short in the front, so you can wear with a pair of stunning color shoes. 

4) Bernadette by Maggie Sottero - Amazing dress with lace all over and a keyhole back.

5) Carissa by Maggie Sottero - Beautiful ball gown with a crystal belt that finishes off the wedding gown.

6) Style Bevan from Wtoo by Watters - I enjoy all the tulle on this dress.

7) Style 2244 from Alfred Angelo - Short dress with a flower pattern, perfect for a small wedding.

8) Style 6724 by Mori Lee - Beautiful!! I would have worn this for my wedding!

9) After Six Bridal Style 1034 from Dessy- $510 - A Greek, Goddess feeling and I love it!

Four Years!! {The Bride + Groom}

These photos by Brandy J Photography really need to introduction - just me and my incredibly handsome husband :o)

Yes, this house really is leaning the far to the right. . . it's actually no longer standing, so our photos will remain unique and memorable!  Incredibly memorable because we were screamed at shortly after taking them. . . that's a story for another time though ;o)

Since we were married Halloween weekend, the Halloween Parade was going on downtown.  We were lucky enough to get some really awesome shots in front of one of the vendors - they thought were clinically insane, but they are honestly some of my favorites!!

Four Years!! {The Bridal Party}

I'm going to keep the Amanda and Ilario Wedding Par-tay going for a little while longer :o)  Right now its some of my favorite photos of The Bridal Party then we'll finish it up tomorrow with some shots of just the two of us and The Reception!!

I love, love, love the photos of my sister and I - we have the middle one framed on our gallery wall in our home because I love it so much!

My hubby is so handsome and our fathers look just as dashing in the photo to the right.  We have the photo of the men walking down the street framed on our gallery wall as well - love it!

There was never any doubt that our photographer, Sticky, was going to be an amazing father after seeing these photos of him and our flower girl,  Hannah. . . also, no doubt Hannah is going to grow up to be a stunning beauty!

The corn field may have been a bit messy, but the results were well worth it!!  Love, love, love :o)

Four Years!!! {Getting Ready}

Can you believe it?!?!?!  Ilario and I have been married FOUR years today!!!  I couldn't be more blessed to have found such an amazing man to spend my life with!

And since reliving that very special day is one of my favorite things (EVER!), I'm going to spend today and tomorrow showing you all some of my favorite details.  Right now, it's all about the ladies (and a few of the handsome men) getting ready.  All photos by Brandy J Photography :o)

My bridesmaids, flower girls and mom spent the morning of October 27th getting ready at a salon in my hometown, which unfortunately is no longer open :o(  My dear friend and hair dresser, Jen, flew in from Charlotte to do my hair while my cousin Kristie and another stylist at the salon helped out with hair as well.  I also was lucky enough to have the talented Jordanne Clyde doing my makeup and an Arbonne specialist working on the rest of the ladies!

I adore the moments captured in these next few photos - my sister is obviously making fun of me while helping put on my jewelry (lol!!), I'm assisting my cousin's little girl, Alivia, put the finishing touches on her flower girl dress and then Alivia and our family friend, Hannah, twirling in their gowns - LOVE!!

The photo of my garter is a very special one - my grandmother, mom and aunts have all worn that garter on their wedding days!!  Jami even wore it earlier in this month :o)

Once again, a few more of my favorite moments - I was having a little fun while the ladies were fluffing my crinoline and then my mom making my brooch (which I purchased in Charleston - where we were engaged!) look just perfect.

Stay tuned for photos from our ceremony!!

Wedding Wednesday | Vera Wang's Spring 2012 Bridal Collection

The time for Vera Wang to continue to amaze us is here!  Her newly released Spring 2012 Bridal Collection is full of volume, bows, lace and ruffles. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Hannah

Strapless natural-waist ballerina ballgown with veiled layers of degrade 

floral laser-cut organza and detachable trapunto-stitched bustier.

This is actually my absolute favorite, it looks elegant and fun at 

the same time... even comfortable!

Hayden

Strapless sweetheart soft mermaid gown with draped bodice of sunburst 

pleating and cascading fan back train. I think this gown would look great 

with a simple off white veil, to give a little bit of brightness contrast.

Hazel

Strapless sweetheart natural-waist ballerina ballgown with sunburst pleating

 and tiered confection skirt. The fullness of the gown is gorgeous!

Hilary

Strapless mermaid gown with full-length floating textured lace appliques and 

sunburst pleated back under-train with floating organza sprig embroidery. 

The lace is beautiful, I love that it gradually becomes less towards the bottom.

Holly

Strapless mermaid gown with piped and pin-tucked drop-waist corset 

with voluminous organza petal skirt with floating sprig embroidery.

Beautiful voluminous bottom!

Wedding Wednesday | Jamie + Grant's Intimate Tennessee Wedding by Shannon Kelley Photography

Today we have a special treat to lay your eyes on - A Real Wedding by the seriously talented Shannon Kelley of Shannon Kelley Photography!  Shannon is not only inspiring behind the camera, but she's doing some pretty incredible things in her personal life as well.  In January, Shannon and her family will be moving to Haiti to do work with World Wide Village.  To learn more about this amazing woman and her journey be sure to read her blog.

Now for a little about this gorgeous wedding, from Shannon herself - 

Jamie and Grant are the perfect example of how you don't have to sacrifice beauty and details with a small wedding. They held a destination wedding for them and their family at a cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Jamie planned out the gorgeous details like the peacock feathers in her hair and for the boutonnieres. The small intimate wedding also let them incorporate really sweet details like each member getting to say a little something to them during the ceremony and, of course, some fun pictures of the whole family together. It was a great day to celebrate their beautiful wedding!

I am in so in love with Jamie's dress - it's the perfect combination of ethereal and sexy!  And are you kidding me with that gorgeous view and the peacock details - swoon!

I adore the emotion Shannon was able to capture - had it not been such an intimate ceremony, those moments could have gone unnoticed.  It truly is beautiful.

The details of this ceremony are exceptional - even the guest attire matched the wedding colors!

A huge thank you goes out to Shannon for sharing these beautiful images of Jamie and Grant's day!!  It's an honor to feature such a gorgeous and unique event :o)

Sunday Funday, #9

Are you kidding me with this gorgeousness from Molly Sims and Scott Stuber's Wedding last weekend?!?!  I am in absolute love with the different and unique, but coordinating dresses - such a great idea!

Photo Source {People.com}

Wedding Wednesday | Christina + Eric 06.09.11

Today I have a beautiful Real Wedding by Alaina Carnahan from Ace of Images with Elizabeth Weddington of Studio Seventy-Nine as the second shooter!  I feel so lucky to have the work of such talented, and sweet :o), ladies!  Bonus:  I get to work with both of them at a wedding next weekend - yay!!!

Christina and Eric were married on July 9th at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, Ohio with a beautiful, rustic reception following at the Williams County Veterans Memorial in Montpelier.  Their wedding was extra special because Christina's son, Josh, was the ring bearer :o)

Are you kidding me with that cuteness?!?!  Also, Eric's company Herm-TV Productions did the videography for the day!  It truly was a family affair ;o)

Now a little about the couple from bride, Christina:
We met while working together at a local TV station. We were inseparable and best friends.


He proposed at our new home after we went to check out “construction”. He asked me if I could see myself living there for quite awhile and I said, "yes". He said, "Since we're starting a new life here together. . . do you think you could spend the rest of yours with me?"

And now for the details of the big day:
The wedding was all planned around the ring. It’s beautiful, vintage and classy. We wanted the style to carry throughout the wedding look. The dress was found at David’s Bridal and definitely had a vintage flair.

The centerpieces were all made by us, as well as the cake table's wood platters.  The cake was made by a church friend and the cupcakes were made by a friend of my Mother-in-Law.  For the tall centerpieces, my mother-in-law glued hydrangea pieces to tree limbs then we washed river rock and stuck them in. For the short squares we bought fake hydrangeas and placed them in the river rock. Our florist was Gabe from Wonsetler Flowers in Bryan and he did the amazing pew decorations/bouquets, etc.

All Occasions Plus in Defiance took care of the hall decorations, including the beautiful hand-made chandelier which fit the theme so well. Stella Blue in Archbold was the caterer and Foxtunes Entertainment out of Stryker was the DJ.

Some words from groom, Eric:
The centerpieces were twigs and branches cut from my parents' back yard, Josh helped pick out the ones to cut. The wood planks for the cake table were cut from my grandparents' backyard tree that was a favorite climbing tree when I was growing up.


Jacob Rausch - my cousin - did the grandparents' memorial flowers.  He is an award winning floral designer who is a freshman at University of Toledo. He has fun doing it on the side as a hobby. and has worked for a florist during the summer.

Absolutely beautiful!!  A definite source of inspiration for brides-to-be :o)  Thanks for sharing, Alaina, and congratulations on your new life together Christina and Eric!!