Posts by Alix - 14/18 - Calgary Bride

The Love You Back project winners

Remember the Love You Back Project? Um – we do. It was the adorable contest that Calgary wedding photographers Anne Wright and Tara Whittaker announced a few months back. Engaged couples in Southern Alberta were asked to submit a video telling their love story - even in this tech savy world, that can be a challenge. It takes time, energy (which many brides lack during the planning process) and a creative eye to come up with a compelling video – I told everyone I was going to make one just for fun annnnd I got about as far as realizing how hard it was going to be. Kudos to those couples who actually did it!

We are sending a huge congratulations to Sarah and Bryce, the big winners, who are getting married on September 17th and will have the luxury of not one, but two fabulous wedding photographers capturing every minute of their beautiful day.

Bryce and Sarah Love You Back Submission

Click here to see the shortlist of entries

Filed Under: Fridays with Alix, Home, Photography Tagged With: Calgary wedding photographers, Calgary wedding photography

big bling impact

So let’s be real for a minute here – one of the best parts about being a bride is all the shopping. Your wedding is the ULTIMATE (and perhaps only) excuse to buy whatever makes your heart sing, no matter what the cost type of occasion. That’s what my girlfriend Michelle keeps telling me “Honey, I probably had about 5 or 6 new entire outfits for my wedding – what other wedding events do you have that we can we shop for?”. And that is one of the many reasons I love Michelle.

But as happy as the idea of buying my dream Burberry trench coat (just in case it rains the day of my bridal shower) makes me, it’s just not in my soul. I want to make a splash and look and feel my absolutely most dazzling for the day, week, month of my wedding but I just can’t do it at any and all costs. I can’t buy a new string of pearls for every shower, or a new diamond tennis bracelet for each dinner even though all the new shopping and boutiques in Calgary makes me want too (and by the way, makes it beyond possible).

So we’re probably in the same boat. You’re a bride who wants to make a huge splash at each and every event to do with your Calgary wedding, but you can’t quite afford to do it how Karl Lagerfeld would want you too. That’s okay – there are ways, many beautiful ways, of getting your ears, neck and wrists blinged out for every celebration of your love – and these ways don’t involve trolling the Bay on Bay Days. Lucky for girls like us, CZ’s (cubic zirconia) and crystals have turned a big corner in the world of fashion jewellery. Long gone are the days when you had to lie about the rocks in your ears, in this post-recession world sparklers that don’t set you back an arm and a leg are what’s in vogue and the best gems at the best price get you all the bragging rights.

Opening Range

Estylo Jewellery featured below is (what else) an Etsy shop that does some pretty spectacular pieces are some even more spectacular prices. The gems big, bright and sparkly but by substituting sterling silver for white gold, and getting rid of the name brand, you’re saving 50% on what other retailers might charge you. They also have a contest running on Perfect Palette right now – so go win yourself some free jewels!

Estylo Jewellery -$24

Estylo Jewelery – $20

Estylo Jewellery – $26 for the pendent

Mid Range

Amy’s Bridal Accessories are the online giant, who have been featured in The Knot and Modern Bride. They do beautiful, timeless pieces at a price point that the average girl can swallow. They also offer sets to gift to whomever – your bridesmaids, your mother-in-law or best of all, you of course. Find the Lookbook here. PS I bought the cuff bracelet. Of course I did.

Jessica by Amy’s Bridal Accessories – $195

Dahlia by Amy’s Bridal Accessories – $130

Designs by Claudia is another interesting online jewellery boutique and here’s what I love about them – they are a mother-daughter family owned boutique. I love this because a) my fiancé works in a father-son family owned business and b) how much fun would THAT be?! Working with your mom, designing stunning jewellery for girls everywhere? I’ll save that job for my next life.

Designs by Claudia – $349

Designs by Claudia – $59

High End

You can’t talk crystals without bringing Swarovski into the mix. The best name in the business, they do really beautiful pieces and lucky for us, there are a few boutiques in and around Calgary, most notably in the new Chinook Mall expansion. Have you checked it out yet? It is near the Tiffany’s, so be careful.

Swarovski Nelly – $210

Swarovski Lightness Collar – $535

Filed Under: Bridal Fashion, Home, Tuesdays with Alix Tagged With: Calgary bride fashion, Calgary bride wedding jewellery

fresh wedding decor: BHLDN

Have you heard of BHLDN? I only ask because a lot of girls haven’t. It’s the bridal line from Anthropologie – have you heard of them? I only ask that question because I had never heard of them until about two years ago so quit judging me. It’s true that Anthropologie has made it’s way north, was up in WestEd for a few years and has now just opened in Chinook so you’ve probably had a chance to feel it out. It’s kind of a … high end Banana Republic for hipster girls. Non? Do you disagree? A lot of you have probably been trolling the Anthropologie website already for the perfect decor accents for your wedding.

BHLDN is their bridal line, and it stays true to their roots – it’s the line for funky, hipster brides. Ones who aren’t faint of wallet. Their dresses are quite beautiful (says the try-hard hipster bride) and surprisingly stay in a price range that doesn’t give me stomach pains. This week, BHLDN launched their new wedding decor section of their site, which again stays very true to the style and essence of their collections. I have taken a pretty good look at it (a.k.a. re-visiting the site about a dozen times, spending at least 20 minutes each time) and they absolutely offer something for everybody – who isn’t faint of wallet.

So this post is a two-parter in photos – the top picks in the collection that I think are beautiful and that you probably can’t find anywhere else. And the pieces that I hope inspire you to go forth and find them in Calgary or make them yourself! Tell me what you think, ok?

Loving…

Pintucked Doily Treat Stand, $88. A reasonable price point, love the delicate doily details (alliteration!) on the top and the stem.

Lights a Flicker Chandelier $168. This would be fabulous in a backyard, or courtyard wedding. Get a few of these and hang them off trees, remembering to put LED lights in lieu of tea lights which could get blown out by the wind. I really like how it has a hook at the top, which means no complicated anything, which is my kind of decor.

Little Leaf Placeholders, $38 and Proprietors Keys, $18. I think these leaf placeholders are so sweet, I haven’t seen anything like them before. (Have you?) As for the proprietors keys, they are very in vogue right now and they are tricky to find. Cut yourself some slack and buy them instead of laucnhing an epic hunt for them.

Inspired by….

Leatherbound Photo Album, $248 and Message in a Bottle, $20. Great pieces, the leather bound book can be found on a stroll along Stephen Avenue and the message in a bottle can be re-created with a bottle from a thrift store and parchment paper.

Chalkboard Hangtags $20, and In Writing Flower Box, $28. The hangtags are great, and you can make them by using paper hangtags of your choice (size, shape, ect) and spraying them or just painting them with chalkboard paint. Same as with the flowers box, pick a pot or crate of your liking and using painters tape, make a box and just paint between the lines!

Filed Under: Fridays with Alix, Home Tagged With: Calgary wedding decor, wedding decor

hats off

Does anyone else feel like 2011 is a rather busy year for weddings? I have 7, including my own in September. That’s right – 7. I heard somewhere from someone that the influx of brides is from the recession – all those lovely couples who got engaged in 2009 and 2010 decided to hold off until the economy recovered and have chosen 2011. So that’s like – 3 years worth of brides getting married in one summer.

So what do I think is going to be the number one craze that came from all this Royal Wedding business? Hats. Absolutely on mothers and grandmothers, no question. Probably even aunties. And maybe even on bridesmaids. And on the bravest of brides. I love it.

Hats are such fun accessories and they come in such a huge range of styles – from a full brim to a petite fascinator, what I like best about them is you can do your hair normal but once you plunk a hat on it, you’ve upped your fashion anti. Too easy!

I have worn hats for a long time (not regularly but I own my fair share) and my one piece of advice for hat shopping is that you once you put that hat on, you are instantly brave. In a rather hatless society, it can feel odd to be the only person in a room with a beautiful hat on your head. I wore a hat to a wedding once, a brown felt number with a floppy brim and some guy literally asked me if it was 1940. Super clever – if he was flirting, that was a flirt fail. The other thing I love about hats is that they don’t have to be matchy matchy with your outfit – they almost look best when they are complimentary colours. Think Chelsy Davy at the Royal Wedding – emerald dress with a creamy pink hat, lovely!

Photo: FashionBride

Calgary brides have a few great spots to shop for hats – Purr clothing, I Appeal, they carry some funky little numbers. By far the place with the most biggest selection is Zsa Zsa’s, right underneath Etho’s Bridal. Calgary however is certainly not a mecca for hats so we turn to our old friend, the internet.

Carolina Herrara Spring 2010 Hats

From a high end designer stand point, Carolina Herrera certainly kicked things off last Spring when she showcased these hats with her bridal collection. The one in the middle is to die for!

Angelina Hat by Maggie Mae

Hannah Hat by Maggie Mae

I love these two wide brim bridal hats by Maggie Mae. Fantastic detailing, I love the stiffness to the brim on the Angelina hat – think how long and slender that would make your neck and jawline look! I am very partial to ruffles and frills and so I am a smitten kitten when it comes to the Hannah hat. I would wear that out and about. Can you imagine, on a sunny afternoon during your cocktail hour, just popping that on? Or at your rehearsal lunch? Or while you’re drinking your coffee on Saturday morning? I can.

Photo: Toronto Hats and Bridal Millinery Service

For those brides who are going for a less traditional style of wedding, I think the spectacle of a hat like this is fantastic and to be honest, I think this is what a lot of Calgary brides are looking for. Calgary weddings are becoming more imaginative with traditional elements (as opposed to vice-versa) and I think this hat fits exactly that ticket.

This is a beautiful hat but if you’re going to wear it, make sure you can commit to it. A hat like this becomes your statement piece, as opposed to your dress so make sure your ensemble compliments itself instead of overwhelming itself. A sleek gown with a scoop neck (hello, Pippa) and a parasol would make this hat look perfect.

Photos : The Chica Boutique

The Courture Dupioni Silk Rosette Bridal Hat by The Chica Boutique is a dainty little chapeau, great for weddings, either for the bride or a guest. The neutral colours make it versatile so it can go with lots of styles of dresses and colours of dresses as well. I love the soft dusty colours of the bottom hat with just a touch of birdcage veil.

What do you think – would you, could you wear a hat? Or do you have a hat you JUST adore?? Send us a pic!

Filed Under: Bridal Fashion, Home, Tuesdays with Alix

The Royal Wedding

Good Morning Calgary! It is 2o’clock in London this Friday April 29^th, and we just finished watching the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. While some of you are just getting ready for work, we are ready for a nap! It has been exhilarating yet exhausting -what an experience. The streets were wild last night and today with many camping out and most getting into the ‘royal spirits!’ We met people from all over the UK, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.

The wedding went off with military precision. William and Harry arrived looking so handsome, actually smashing… (sigh) in their attire. Diana would have been proud. The queen was lovely wearing a beautiful and happy shade of yellow. Pippa was an outstanding attendant tending to her sister with grace and calm. Her simple dress was complimentary on her gorgeous figure. We think she could have been a bride she was so stunning! We were so impressed with the calm and confidence that the whole Middleton family processed.

Kate’s grace, confidence, composure was extraordinary. We stopped by Alexander McQueen’s salon on Bond Street yesterday wondering if it would be a Sarah Burton dress! We have to say we are very impressed with her choice. Kate’s silhouette was perfect. The dress was more traditional than thought but had the classic neckline that she wears so well. It was a perfect Kate dress. She wore the dress, it didn’t wear her, and it has a timeless beauty that will look elegant and classic for always. However, so anxious to find out about the shoes Kate and Pippa wore! Must research! We have been snapping lots of photos on stunning shoes so more of that to come.

The hats, my goodness the hats! One has to love the Brits for their crazy yet wonderful tradition of hats! Victoria Beckham’s gravity defying hat was stunning however Eugenie’s ‘head structure’ was a tad wacky, don’t you think? Even in the crowd there were hats everywhere, although most were pure fun and many had straws connecting to liquid refreshments!

There were over 200,000 viewers on the streets and they had huge screens at Hyde Park and also outside the Abby so everyone felt very involved. Although it was mayhem and party mode was in full tilt, Hyde Park was relatively calm during most of the ceremony and then went wild and roared when Prince William and Kate were announced as husband and wife! For the number of people in the crowd it was great to see it in relative control!

Have to say, loved the sermon of the Bishop of London when he quoted Saint Catherine of Siena whose festival day is today. (Coincidence?) “Be who God meant you to be and set the world on fire…” His sermon was very heartfelt and real and we found ourselves truly listening to every word he said. And didn’t Kate’s brother do an outstanding job reading from Romans 12?

It was a powerful occasion with tiny moments of intimacy. William and Kate will be fantastic role models for Britain, for the royal family,

Filed Under: Fridays with Alix, Home

The Love You Back project winners