{Photo by Millie Kuyer Photography}

How was your week, sweet readers? Hopefully you enjoyed having Monday off and have been enjoying the sun when it’s out (we know we have!). There are a couple of farmer’s markets open now and we’re hoping to hit at least one for some seasonal ingredients—rhubarb and ramps, perhaps?—for fabulous meals this weekend. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Here are the links we’re loving from around the web this week:

+ We strongly suggest you add Scout Handmade + Vintage Market to your Saturday plans

+ Are you planning a tea party for your stagette or bridal shower? Please wear this hat!

+ We’re obsessed with this simple and suave wedding

+ Proof that wedding jewellery doesn’t have to be traditional

+ Wedding inspiration is in everything—even oysters

+ We love the subtle sexiness of this boudoir shoot (can we be next?)

+ There’s eye candy at Blush Bridal this weekend

+ These ice cubes are striped and spiked

+ If your proposal was amazing and recorded it could land a TV gig

See you next week!

Summer is coming, lovelies, we can feel it. We can see it in our dress choices for today’s preowned wedding dress roundup too, that craving for all things light and soft and swirly and simply beautiful.

1. David’s Bridal KP3280, $100/originally $250

The epitome of a sweet summer wedding dress, this short gown doesn’t take itself too seriously (and would hold up to some serious heat). All over lace and a bubble hem keep things interesting without distracting too much from the garden party feel.

2. Clara Couture Custom Design, $700/originally $1,700

We can practically feel the Italian silk of this gown just by looking at it, and we think it’s one of the prettiest simple styles we’ve come across. This wedding dress has never been worn and it includes a couple rare perks: A free accessory (such as a veil) from the designer and a free fitting.

3. BHLDN 20316915 , $1,200/originally $1,700

This is bohemian done in the best possible way, with lots of light layers and an other era bodice. Not to mention plenty of silk chiffon. The dress originally featured spaghetti straps (as pictured above) but the owner had a wider strap sewn in. If you’re sold on the original look, the original straps come with the dress and could be easily reattached.

4. Vera Wang White VW351065, $750/originally $1,248

Vera Wang doing what Vera Wang does best, a tulle skirt that is downright dreamy and a lace bodice that gives a shot of high fashion to the whole affair. This size 12 gown can be taken in two sizes and hasn’t been hemmed, so it’s perfect for you glamazons.

5. Calvin Klein, $150/original price not listed

Sometimes you just don’t want to mess with simplicity and this simple silk sheath is too flattering to fuss with (the pictures really don’t do it justice). We really want someone to snatch it up and go Old Hollywood with red lipstick or maybe a Billie Holiday flower in their hair.

One note: As with anything for sale online, it’s important to buy smart. Use a trusted online money service to pay for your dress (PayPal and Escrow.com are good options) or meet the bride in person—with a friend.

Vancouver has a budding green wedding scene and Pure Magnolia is at the forefront, designing eco-friendly wedding gowns that are every bit as beautiful as their conventional counterparts. These gowns use stunning reclaimed and vintage fabrics and all-natural materials (think hemp silk and organic cotton sateen) and are made right here in the Lower Mainland.

This week Pure Magnolia is running a three-day sample sale where some of their gorgeous gowns—in sizes two to eight—will be hugely discounted (some by almost 70 percent!).

The sale kicks off tomorrow at the Lynn Valley Square Farmer’s Market, where, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., you could find your dream wedding dressandsome tasty local treats (are we the only ones who think there’s something very romantic about finding your gown at a farmer’s market?).

If you can’t make it to the Market, the sale will continue Friday and Saturday at the Pure Magnolia studio from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., respectively. And, if you can’t work any of those days or times into your schedule, you can even call and arrange a special appointment to see the sample sale gowns.

We’re crossing our fingers you find the perfect white wedding dress for your green wedding!

Is it just us or can it be kind of daunting trying to find a wedding officiant? There’s that chance you’ll end up with someone who will stand up with you on the big day and stiffly perform a service so standard we could all recite it in our sleep.

And why should it be like that? Your ceremony is, arguably, the most meaningful part of your wedding day, and it should be about the two of you and who you really are—not a repetition of boiler plate text. It should make you feel something.

That’s why we’re so excited to have found Young, Hip & Married, a team of awesome wedding officiants who can make your wedding ceremony interesting and personal and who actually have some personality themselves.

Created by a young couple who seem pretty darn hip themselves, Young, Hip & Married also offers pre- and post-marital counseling and frequently takes to YouTube to give a little online advice.

If you’re looking for someone who can make your ceremony unique, we strongly suggest you take a look at all the different officiants available through Young, Hip & Married and set up a meeting (bonus points if you book Spider Man!).

{Photo by Maypole Studios}

We know it’s more than a month before it’s officially summer, but we’re already craving lemonade, road  trips to Tofino, and long evenings gathered around a grill…not to mention all the fun of full-blown wedding season. If the sun’s out this weekend we might just indulge ourselves and pretend it’s sweltering while we stroll the Seawall (it’s only denial if it’s actually raining).

Here are the links we’re loving from around the web this week:

+ Stamped antique spoons that would be perfect table markers (or gifts for your bridal party)

+ An engagement session so colorful and happy we wish we were part of it

+ Is it too early to be dreaming about wedding s’mores?

+ Need some help with your budget or your seating chart? There’s an app for that

+ We love the idea of making clip-on bow ties in a fun summer color or pattern for the groomsmen

+ Stunning engagement photos captured on Galiano Island

+ Hey fellas, Revel Events has some advice for planning your proposal (or you can hire them to do it!)

+ Feed your guests these “midnight snacks” and earn their love forever

+ We don’t think there are enough great getaways at weddings, but this will do the trick

Have so much fun this weekend!

Lovely readers, won’t you join us in raising a glass to our 100th post? We thought we’d celebrate with some glitter and champagne wedding inspiration since they’re two of our favorite things and make any day feel like a special occasion.

{Sources (clockwise from top left): glitter egg DIY from Oh Happy Day!| 6 wedding nail ideas from Glamour magazine   | Geronimo Balloons | champagne-themed wedding ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings | Mike Larson Photographers, Inc.}

Of all the wedding paraphernalia, the guest book is probably the item most forgotten and purchased last minute. It’s ironic too, since every guest sees it and uses it.

So, instead of leaving it to the last minute and having your friends and family sign a standard, nondescript book, we suggest you pick up something that will actually add to your decor and be memorable…like the printed wooden guestbooks from Quotes & Notes.

Created by a local designer, the Quotes & Notes guestbooks are made from basswood and come in a variety of styles, some that are customized with your names (or initials) and wedding date and others that feature sweet quotes perfect for the occasion. Inside you’ll find 40 blank pages where guests won’t be limited by lined paper (we love when a bride and groom encourages guests to get creative).

Quotes & Notes also makes lovely little favor bags (the “love is sweet” option is dying for a spot by your candy buffet) and printed clothespins that are perfect for posting photo booth pics.

Find all their guestbooks—and other goodies—here.

Just don’t forget the pen!

Today’s roundup of great “vintage” Vancouver dresses doesn’t fit a particular pattern. We have short, long, ruffled, sleek, and nothing looks very similar. The plus side of that? We think we have something for everyone. Happy hunting!

1. Melissa Sweet Lia, $1,250/originally $4,000

This dress is a cult classic, and for a long time it was impossible to find secondhand, but here’s one you can get your hands on that’s in like new condition. You’ll have to be petite, however, since it’s been fitted for a size zero.

2. Allure Bridal 8862, $700/originally $1,500

There’s so much swirly goodness in this dress that it can barely contain it. And that’s exactly what would make it a fun, fantastical dress for your wedding. Plus, you get a beautifully beaded accent drawing the eye in to the narrowest part of your waist.

3. Paloma Blanca 3860, $600/originally over $2,000

Looking for a seriously good deal? This is your dress. It’s 100 percent silk and there are fabric buttons running down the entire length of the dress. It’s a far cry from the ruffle-y wonder above, but perfect if your tastes are a little more subtle.

4. Pronovias , $499/originally $1,700

We love a dress you won’t see on lots of other brides, and this fits the bill since the current owner had the spaghetti straps removed to mimic the strapless v-neck that wowed women everywhere in the Sex And The City movie. It’s not the only interesting detail on the dress, either, with lace and beading doing their part too.

5. BCBG, $50/originally $250

A reception dress can be great for making it easier to dance and relax after the ceremony, but it can also be hard to justify splurging on a second dress. You won’t have to guilty about spending extra for this (it’s less than most dinners out!), and the pleated side detailing is a cool touch.

One note: As with anything for sale online, it’s important to buy smart. Use a trusted online money service to pay for your dress (PayPal and Escrow.com are good options) or meet the bride in person—with a friend.

If you’ve been reading WiV for awhile, you’ll know that we’re big fans of Jason Matlo (he might even be our favorite Vancouver wedding dress designer). So, naturally, we were excited to see what his new 2012 bridal collection would look like at “The Art of Romance” event he just put on. And, naturally, our expectations were totally exceeded.

Every gown that went down the runway at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia clearly said “couture”—and they should with over 3,000 hours of work going into them—and while Matlo managed to keep a clear theme running through collection, he didn’t sacrifice variety to do so.

So if your dream has always been something sleek and chic, the 2012 Matlo Bridal Collection has something for you (we’re particularly partial to the one-shoulder long sleeved gown ) or if your tastes lean more toward intricate lace and a full skirt, there’s something for that too. Regardless of your favorite, you  know it’ll have the subtle 1950s feel that inspired Matlo for his latest works, and you know it will make you look elegant and timeless on your big day.

You can check out the video of the runway show here, hear more about the collection here and see a sampling of the dresses here.

]]> http://wedinvancouver.com/2012/05/14/jason-matlo/feed/ 0 Wed in Vancouver jason matlo http://wedinvancouver.com/2012/05/11/lovely-links-for-may-11th/ http://wedinvancouver.com/2012/05/11/lovely-links-for-may-11th/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 22:14:39 +0000 chloecrowson http://wedinvancouver.com/?p=966 Continue reading →]]>

Your mom may be focused on her “mother of the bride” role lately, but this weekend is all about her. Hopefully you have some fun plans on how to spoil the number one lady in your life this Sunday (we’re planning things like picnics, tea sessions and lots of chocolate and wine). Happy (early) Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there!

Here are the links we’re loving from around the web this week:

+ A wedding shoot with the mother-of-the-bride in a starring role (and lots of lace inspiration)

+ This playful engagement session by Sharalee Prang

+ Photographic proof of why you should consider wearing Toms on your wedding day

+ A crate for “the champagne of ginger ales” that could sit at your wedding full of ice and actual champagne

+ An incredibly artistically photographed rainy-day wedding captured by Brian Van Wyk

+ Got some time to kill? This string sign DIY would be a good way to use it.

+ A clutch for the big day that would be perfectly on-trend all summer

+ You need gold letter ballons. You just might not realize it yet. Spell out “love” or your names and use them for your engagement photos or wedding decor.

+ Do you know this newly engaged couple? Blush Photography  is on the hunt for them.

See you Monday!