A Well-Dressed Wedding: Bridesmaids

It has almost been six months since the Royal Wedding and we are going through royal withdraw!  Looking back through pictures, one can't help but notice how well-dressed everyone was and remember the Pippa Middleton craze.  Pippa certainly made an impression around the globe and some even argue that Kate was overshadowed by her sister's knockout dress (blasphemy!).  Aside from her gorgeous physique, what is it about Pippa's look that made it an instant coveted classic?  Two things:  the modest, yet feminine shape and the ivory color.

THE REPLICAS

There are plenty of copy-cat dresses available out there at stores like Macys for reasonable prices.  And while these dresses are so pretty, we encourage brides to be inspired by weddings like Will and Kate's, not mimic them exactly.  However, Pippa's dress would make a lovely dress for a bride at a simple countryside wedding, don't you think?

Nordstrom

Zappos

THE SHAPE

If you want your maids to have Pippa's look, but you are not down with someone else wearing white on your wedding day, then take cues from the dress style but in a different color.  Do away with strapless, halters, spaghetti straps, sleeveless and choose a dress with a cap sleeve or even an off-the-shoulder cap sleeve.  If your bridesmaids are not comfortable with a form-fitting gown, try a tailored look like The Dessy Group dress.

Saks Fifth Avenue

The Dessy Group

THE COLOR

For smaller bridal parties, we love the idea of having the gals wear ivory.  Choose a fabric that is going to make the color look rich and perhaps slightly off from the bride's dress.  Stick to a less traditional bridal dress style and keep all of the maids' dresses the same.  Accent the bridesmaids with an embellish belt or colored bouquets to allow you to remain distinct as the bride.  This dress from The Limited (on sale for $99!) would be a perfect look for your royal-inspired bridal party.

The Limited

Jen

FLE Royal Wedding Party

  Two nights ago, we arrived at the party house without a clue of what the night before us held.  Four Leaf Events', Jen Barnette, created the most beautiful evening for guests.  The royal wedding viewing party was more than I could have imagined it to be.  The sapphire engagement ring's deep blue was the inspiration for the evening. Upon entering the house, the living room was transformed into a "wedding aisle," and it is here that we would watch Princess Diana's wedding as an appetizer, and would later watch the wedding of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding.  A table was set up to hold replica sapphire and diamond rings that were given to guests as party favors.  The signature drinks of the night were called "Kate-tails," and were colored sapphire blue with sugared rims to look like the ring when viewed from above.  Wedding portraits of every sovereign, dating back to Queen Victoria and Prince Edward and also included Charles and Diana's, were hung on the wall.  And as a photographer and journalist from the Associated Press crept quietly in the background, the evening was magical.  The wedding cake was simple and beautiful, the food was delicate and delicious, and the memories are priceless.  

Photo by Darron Cummings, AP

What wedding would be complete without a picture of the shoes?  Granted it's usually the bride's shoes that are photographed, but I think ours were pretty fabulous too. 

Breakfast was more than any of us could handle, complete with scones, fresh fruit, homemade banana bread, and fresh-squeezed orange juice!

We sipped tea and watched the royal ceremony in our pajamas and matching William and Kate t-shirts.

Photo by Darron Cummings, AP

English breakfast tea topped off the morning in assorted, vintage teacups.

The official royal invitations and Jen's creations.

 Below is the invitation, inspired by the royal invitations and Jen's unique RSVP card. For more information on how you can have your own unique creation, click here.

A few of the girls from the evening.

Now that the royal wedding is over, what will we spend all our time obsessing over?  We have some big things on the horizon at Four Leaf Events, so keep checking back to stay updated!  I don't want to give TOO much away, but think "water"....and "elephants!!!"

Jaimee

FLE Royal Wedding Party Featured Worldwide!

   Last nights events were a huge success! The evening and early hours of the morning were filled with joy and laughter as Four Leaf Events and girlfriends joined to celebrate and watch the Royal Wedding.  We even had a couple of special guests from the Associated Press with us, so while we gather and collect ourselves from a long night, enjoy some pictures and articles from the AP that featured us on The Today Show's site, MSNBC's royal wedding coverage, as well as ABC's Action News and more!

Jaimee

Countdown to the Royal Wedding!

1 day, 23 hours, 15 min, 58 sec

Prince William and Kate

       Thirty years ago, on July 29, our mothers set their alarms for the early morning hours to watch what would, until now, be thought of as the most fantastic, fairytale wedding.  Now, thirty years later, on April 29, 2011, we are going to do the very same thing.  Our very own, Jen Barnette, is planning a very intimate viewing party that will, no doubt, not disappoint. With details of the night remaining a mystery to guests, much like the royal wedding's secrecy, we are highly anticipating the event.  What I DO know is that the replica invitations were beautiful and were complimented by her own design of RSVP cards (which I loved so much I wanted to keep, rather than send back to her). Also, what I know, is that we will begin the evening in cocktail dresses and end it in our pajamas! Who said twenty-somethings are too old for sleepovers?  Stay tuned for pictures of the event, and we would love to hear from anyone else about other viewing parties that will be taking place, and better yet, see pictures of what's going on out there!  Also, be sure to check back after the wedding for the gorgeous details, and how we can help you make your own wedding as magical as the one the world will be watching!

Jaimee

The Final Four....... Weeks

This weekend sports fans across the country will be gathering to watch the top four men's and women's college basketball teams duke it out during the Final Four Tournament.  At Four Leaf Events, however, we are excited about a different "final four."  Today marks four weeks until the royal wedding of the century and we cannot believe it's almost here!

www.princeofwales.gov.uk

The wedding planning process can seem like forever until you hit the final weeks and you wonder where the time has gone.  It is important to keep on schedule and on task so that the last month will be easy sailing.  Here are a few of the most important things that you, along with Kate, can expect to tackle during the final month:

Visit Your Hair Dresser- If you are updating your do before the wedding be sure to give your frocks enough time for the color to settle and the cut to become more natural.

Manage RSVP's- Most invite responses will not start coming in until just before (or after!) the catering deadline, so you can expect a rush of mail in these final weeks.

Create A Seating Chart- Unfortunately, assigning seats can be a long, frustrating process, and cannot be completed until you have received all RSVP's and contacted those who have not yet responded.

Get Your Marriage License- If you would like for your wedding to be legal, then this step is a must and cannot be filed more than a month before your nuptials. 

Schedule A Final Dress Fitting- Excessive exercise and stress can really take a toll, thus it is important to make sure your dress is perfectly fitted to the current version of you so that nothing is falling off or falling out on the big day!

Love And Trust Your Wedding Planner- With all of the pesky little details surrounding the final four weeks, there is nothing that can put your mind at ease more than a professional taking on the stressful tasks.  Treat yourself like a royal by hiring a wedding planner! 

Jen

p.s. Check back after Will & Kate's wedding for pictures from Four Leaf Events' very own Royal Wedding Party!  

Royally Classic

The royal wedding invitations were sent out last Thursday and 1,900 lucky guests around the world are finding their personal copies in the mail this week.  While I am accepting the fact that mine may get lost indefinitely in the mail, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to open that particular piece of mail.  

The grandeur of this simple invitation with beveled and gilded edges (that means it is literally covered in gold, people!) represents something very regal and instantly creates great anticipation for those chosen guests.  Why not take a cue from the royal family and create a wedding invitation that will leave your guests wanting more?  Even though most of us cannot afford to use pure gold on an invitation, there are still many other ways to make yours stand out. 

  

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/

Paper quality is the number one element for making a good first impression through the mail.  Create your own royal crest by using a custom logo or monogram that will add elite status to your invitations and your entire event.  Remember, mailing addresses and guests' names should always be handwritten and adds that all-important personal touch.  Pick out several lesser valued postal stamps for your mailing envelope for a foreign, vintage feel.

These simple touches will transform any invitation from something basic to something royally classic!

Happy Planning!   Jen