No me preguntes si te amo,
porque esa pregunta me ofende,
si pudiera colocar moneda sobre moneda
para hacer una torre de todo lo que siento,
créeme llegaría hasta el cielo.

Verdades (Anónimo) 

Shopping for a wedding gown is such an important part of the planning process that it means even more when you find a salon that treats you as special as you deserve to feel.  Novia Mia is a beautiful, Calgary based bridal salon, featuring custom made bridal gowns and evening wear, that offers specialized one-on-one service for brides who are looking for some extra attention to detail.

Novia Mia recently released their 2012 collection of gowns and we are so excited about them! What’s so wonderful about a custom made wedding dress is that it is made 100% to fit your body. Whether your body type flatters long and lean or curve hugging , above are two examples of their beautiful gowns. These dresses have intricate and detailed beadwork, just an example of how dedicated these ladies are to their brides! Stunning gowns that are made with love and detail. We’ve posted some of our favourites below and a few snaps we took from The Wedding Fair in January!

Image via Novia Mia Facebook Page, Photograph by Cassie's Camera

Image via Novia Mia Facebook Page, Photograph by Cassie's Camera

Image via Novia Mia Facebook Page, Photograph by Cassie's Camera

Full of predictions – I’m always full of predictions! And my hindsight is 20/20 – don’t you feel lucky to have a bridesmaid like me?! Purple was the big colour of 2011 – we saw it everywhere, in sweet lavenders and electric violets. 2011 was the Year of Purple.

And while purple is continuing to be a strong choice for brides in 2012, we think that purple’s close brother navy blue needs a little love! Not because it’s not getting any – navy blue is making inspiration boards for designers and decorators everywhere.

The trend is being influenced by the east coast, preppy style that is big lately, a trend that is stemming from the hipster chic style circa 2010 and 2011. Really, I should just draw trend maps all day.

Navy blue and yellow look so sweet and nautical together,(as the navy in navy blue is a literal reference, navy blue was worn by the British Navy and subsequently adopted by other navies) but navy blue is also a great colour for an equine themed wedding or a farm or ranch wedding.

Your gents in their navy blue suits would look great, your bridesmaids with their delicate navy blue lace would look divine! Your boutique with a splash of navy blue would be so elegant and your table setting would be so sleek with splashs of navy blue.

1. Photo via Style Me Pretty
2. Photo via Style Me Pretty
3. Photo via Pinterest
4. Photo via Zen and Coffee
5. Photo/dress via Charlotte Russe

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.
Benjamin Frankli

Purple might end up being the colour of 2012 – in the Fall of 2011, we were seeing deep purples and lavenders take over weddings as accent colours and a part of larger palette colours. But for 2012, we think purple is coming to the spotlight and wedding colours are starting to revolve around this regal choice.

Creative Weddings & Occasions put together this dazzling purple table top for The Wedding Fair and called their table “Purple Passion”. The mix of glitzy silvers, luxurious purples and airy lavenders hit the exact mark for what we think brides are looking for in 2012. The table linens had a mix of rich colour and light reflecting sparkle. The stationery and plates added just the right amount of bling and the delicate floral details found all over the table add the perfect blend of femininity.

The ladies of CW&O did a great job lightening up the deep colour of the linens using silver charges and white plates with silver detailing. The pattern on the china echos the pattern on the linens, giving it a classic through line. It’s the little touches that make the table stand out – the sugary lollipop in the martini glass and the broach as a napkin ring  match blinged out, lacey edges of the menu cards.

The additional touches of fushia and purple brought it all together – the sparkling ribbon, the glittering candles and the floral touch on the name card is a great tie in.

The ladies of CW&O did a stunning job creating their centre pieces with Mandala Floral – the combination of using hydrangea, gladiolas blooms, orchids, and hanging crystals were such an elegant touch! Hanging crystals are a great way to bring bling to your centre piece if you’re not interested in having rhinestones embedded within your florals.

Image by Edward Ross Photography, via Creative Weddings & Occasions Facebook Page

Mmmmm teal. Gone are the days when teal was seen as a colour mostly used in destination weddings. It’s back and it’s back in a big way. Teal is popping up in tons of fashion and design – Missoni constantly uses teal in their clothing designs, pairing with bold oranges and golds. Teal is also making quite a decor statement as magazines are featuring dark chocolates and wood grains paired with teal accents, like throw pillows or picture frames.

The mark of a visionary wedding specialist is one who sees trends coming  and Reflection Weddings Designs brought that talent to the big show. Their teal and black table top told a very sweet story – from the glittery overlay to the butterfly and bird touches. It was refreshing to see a little bit of dazzle! A table top like this is perfect for an April or May spring wedding.

PS Click on the photos to enlarge them!

I love this first set of photos because you can really see the details of the table runner. It’s like a glittery lace – the best of both worlds, non? The table runner combined with the reflective charger and the black plates give the table the splash of glamour that takes it from sugary sweet to dramatic and charming.

Image via Reflections Wedding Design Facebook Page

Love the butterflies and sparrows that are incorporated in the decor – I feel like I can come up with a million sayings that quantify how cute I think this is. These photos help me appreciate the design on the wings of the birds definitely, and love how the butterflies are dangle on strings of pearls. Really speaks to  how far the Reflections ladies go to make sure that your big day is perfect, down to the smallest touches.

The centre piece on this table was UNbelieveable – honestly, these photos don’t do it justice.  The height, the size – it was spectacular. It was almost like little specks of light were raining down on the table, just from the reflections of beads on the branches. This is a centre piece that would not only blow a room away, it works with any colour scheme or pattern.  See the photo below for a way better perspective on just how huge and stunning it really was!

Image via Reflections Wedding Design Facebook Page