Bridal Expo

Please bear with me as I am still recovering from the Oscars. While I try to be concise with my fashion wrap-up, the best analogies and comparisons always come to me a couple of days later. So I thought I would share those with you, two days after the 2013 Academy awards…  in hopes that you might understand how my creative process works. Some people are more visual than others, we see things differently than most people, color is important to us.  We see repetition in shapes, designs, patterns and we can’t help comment. You want to take a visual person (like me) shopping with you because no matter how much it hurts, we will say to you, “Hey, Jennifer – don’t wear that purple gown with the ruffle thing in the back or you’ll wind up looking like Barney.”

Or in a kinder manner, delicatley let Nicole Kidman know that this dress is only a good idea if she plans on wearing it for Halloween as Cleopatra.  All she will need is a good headband. “Hello, Costume City?”

Or we may point out similarities bewteen fashion and architecture. In fact, it almost appears as if Stacy Keibler and Halle Berry were having a contest to see who could look  more like the Chrysler building. Or maybe the joke is on them and the designers planned this!

Even the sexiest mom alive is not immune to a little critique from a shopping pal like me. If I had gone in the fitting room with Heidi, I would have steered her more in this direction

and less in this direction. “No, Heidi, turn left  – that is the Forever 21 section”

Chubby, plump or (dare I say) fat women need to realize one thing: You are not a size 2 . A gown is not going to make you look any thinner or fatter than you already are. Lose weight or don’t – nobody cares…. we love your talent and charm.  It doesn’t have to be black but, it shouldn’t be this:

For the record, Melissa McCarthy ‘s hair and makeup – flawless.

If I were friends with Adele, I would tell her to do something about the creepy, pointy, vampira manicure and cut a smidge off her hair.  

Good vs. Not-so-much

For her dress, try to branch out a little because the 3/4 sleeve, black sparkly gown is starting to look like a uniform. Here is a clue: If drag queens can imitate all of your songs without a costume change, there might be a problem.

In the end, everyone needs a good friend to take shopping, someone to hold their purse and take a digital picture and to be the voice of reason. That person should be the most  discerning  person you know because they will make sure that your side-boob is not showing and that you do not look like a cartoon of  yourself (or anyone else).

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

There were very few surprises at the 85th Academy Awards –  including the red carpet appearances leading up to the show itself! The only surprise (for me) came from the lack of any real standout on the red carpet, with the exception of  Helena Bonham Carter. That’s not a compliment, by the way.

I thought Seth Macfarlane was a very good host and  his Lincoln joke was hilarious. Well, played, Seth. Maybe the boob song was a bit much for some – but not for me.  FYI it was a spoof  on how the Academy sent out a ‘side-boob’ memo asking everyone not to show too much of the body part made famous [in part] by the creator of “Side-boob hour with Peter Griffin”. I also knew he would not be deemed the worst host EVER since there are two words to prevent that from happening: James Franco.

Seth looked appropriately Oscar-worthy in his well fitted tuxedo that was neither too shiny or too tight to do a little dance.

Charlize Theron- For me, this Dior gown was probably the most understated and under rated gown of the evening. Perfect, flawless and I am not even a fan of peplums (hello? 1984 called) But, this one is sweet, slightly beaded and not overpowering. My favorite gown of the entire evening – hands down!

Amy Adams looked beautiful in this Oscar de la Renta gown but, her hair was way disheveled. Perhaps a pre-Oscar party? Or maybe she was trying to match her hair to the jagged, scrunchy effect on the tulle?

Jennifer Lawrence was considered (by everyone except me) to be  the best dressed at the 2013 Oscars in this beautiful gown by Dior Haute Couture. But, the fit is all wrong and frankly the brocade made the whole thing look even bigger than it was. Sorry, this didn’t do it for me. The dress needs some serious alteration and  the backward necklace was all wrong. Jennifer is darling and can wear anything but, this was not herbest look.

Jane Fonda continues to look amazing. She looked flawless. Her gown was brought to you by Sprint.

Anne Hathaway won for Best Actress in a supporting nipple:

“It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life, all that matters is that you’ve got to get up!” – Powerful words, Ben… really powerful words.

Best  Picture, Best Speech (ever), Worst tie – Ben Affleck.

But, seriously - where did you get this tie? It’s too square, it’s crooked, it’s awful.  Next time use a clip on – or have George or Bradley pick one out for you.

Jack Nickolson used to dress like this:

Now he dresses like this:

What is with the baggy, puffy suit that looks like it fit the ‘before’ picture of   weight watchers? You are super wealthy and super famous  so there is no excuse – get a stylist, and a decent suit…. now.

Did Reese Witherspoon’s gown come from the Prom Outlet?

Because  Helen Hunt’s gown came from H&M !

Of course, $700,000 worth of jewelry doesn’t hurt!

Overall, nothing for me was overwhelming. There was no standout, there was no showstopper and no one really made any kind of fashion statement other than the same lack of  ” Fabulous” we have seen over and over. For me – I think we may have jumped the shark with the pageant beading. Most of the women over 30 looked like they had just hopped off the plane from Atlantic City. Not mentioning any names. ( Catherine, Kristen, Heidi)

 …oops, looks like Heidi didn’t get the ‘booby’ memo!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Wedding invitations have evolved into something so personal and unique that you can actually get a feel for the wedding itself just by seeing (and touching) the invitation. Whether you choose parchment, custom engraving or print the invitations yourself, there are dozens of things you can do to spice up your invitations without breaking the bank.

Photos – Consider incorporating your engagement photo into the invitation or save the date to make an impact.

Words - Using your own words, maybe some sort of prose, will add an artistic flair.

Be Creative - Use touches of your culture with color and font.

Sparkle – A little sparkle never hurt anyone, right? A touch of glitter, a rhinestone or iridescent ink is very exciting.

DO NOT  add confetti - no one likes opening an envelope with confetti in it.

Consider calligraphy instead of printed address labels, it really makes an impact.

Postage - Using a stamp with a specific theme is a nice idea. Take it a step further by using  custom photo stamps for all of your wedding postage. Also making sure you have the correct postage will save a ton of headaches. Can you  imagine having 150 invitations returned?

The most important thing to keep in mind when selecting your wedding invitations is that you don’t forget your personal style. Keep the event and location in mind and let that dictate the style of the paper, ink, font and wording.  With literally hundreds of choices, it can get very confusing but, don’t despair – there is a style out there just right for you. 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Imagine for a moment that you have been looking forward to your first meeting with  a particular florist, or  baker, or  wedding planner. You have done your research; called referrals, made sure they are accredited and have a good rating with the BBB. You make your appointment well in advance and then, suddenly, they cancel at the last minute. What do you do? Although I’m usually  in favor of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, there are cases when a cancellation might be a red flag. 

If the vendor cancels because they have overbooked, you might have cause for concern.  This could mean there is a time management problem.

However, if the vendor cancels because another event had a legitimate crisis that had to be handled immediately, this says the vendor is as concerned with keeping their existing clients happy as they are booking new clients.

If the vendor cancels because of weather, health or personal family issues, we can all understand… these things happen. Of course, if it happens more than once, this could be someone who has a lot of drama in their life and it could be time to take a closer look at whether or not you  can handle their drama.

In essence, when a vendor cancels you need to use your best judgement to decide whether or not they deserve a second chance. If the reason is weak or there really is no reason,  you should begin your search for another vendor to replace them … someone who is able to keep appointments. This is especially true for a bridal or wedding consultant. You are hiring them to manage your entire wedding and this is no easy task – there must be total faith and trust.

The last thing you need to be doing on the day of your event is chasing vendors  or worrying if things will be done properly. 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

There are some colors that are timeless, colors that transcend theme and season, that magically work in almost any venue and seem like the decor was planned around the event instead of vice verse. Blush is one of those colors.

Blush is defined as a warm, delicate, rosy color. Definitely one of the most diverse colors in the pink family, blush can be worn by almost every skin tone from Olive to fair to African American to Asian.

Designers have been showing bridal gowns in blush for years!

Blush goes perfectly with a Victorian or Vintage themed event.

Sumptuous flowers with crystal accents create a French Art Deco mood.

Belts, table accents, shoes, jewelry and  other wedding accessories make a beautiful and delicate statement when featured in blush. This includes  desserts and cakes.

The greatest benefit of blush is the versatility. You will never find another color that is as easy to match or blend as blush, and with blush as your main color, you won’t have to worry about an accent color, since everything goes with Blush!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

The Grammys are always so much fun to watch because musicians  seem to have so much fun with their fashions…. they don’t hold back – they have such a flair!!  Last night was a tad more high brow ( no one showed up in meat or laid an egg) but, rest assured there plenty of red carpet hits and misses!

Starting with the worst of the worst

10) Jennifer Lopez – Everything about this dress by Anthony Vaccarello is wrong, the slit, the fit and the overall boringness of the “I have to expose myself to be relevant” mentality. 

9) Adele wearing  floral draperies. This is a common mistake; your dress does not have to match your shoes excatly. She would have been better off picking one bright color to go with the floral shoe!

Kelly Clarkson wins big in the singing department but, unfortunately is a huge fashion fail. It seemed like a safe choice, a non-descript little black dress but, this one is not the right one. Blah and ill-fitting. Kelly has so much going on for her in the talent department,  but, girl needs some fashion advice…  badly!

7) Lisa D’Amato in a really strange dress fit for a hoe-down.I can’t stop humming Entrance of The Gladiators. I’ll wait while you google it…..

6)Florence Welch vs. Godzilla. Wearing a green sequined Givenchy gown is a great idea, unless it has spikes made of _______!  What?

5) Kimbra in Jaime Lee Major. In many ways , I think this dress is adorable…. Fun, sparkly, silly, youthful  and just a little of this and that. But, the color combination is all wrong. Seriously….. it’s the Grammys – don’t be shy!

4) Kelly Rowland in this unbelievably well-fitting and show-stopping gown by Georges Chakra.

3) Katie Perry is all grown up and very sophisticated in this beautiful Gucci gown. Top to bottom perfection.

2) Justin Timberlake has never looked better than in this Tom Ford suit.

1) Rihanna  is RED HOT, sheer perfection in Azzedine Alaia. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Remember last year when I was ranting and raving about the cake-pop and how it would be the biggest thing in wedding desserts since cupcakes stole the show about three years ago? Well, turns out I was right. Not only that – this little gem has inspired many to start an entire business catering to and serving only cake pops.

For those of you who missed my introduction last February to the darling of the dessert world, I would like to introduce you to the ” Cake- Pop”. For those of you who were with me while I extolled the virtues of the delightful smidgen of cake on a stick, lets re-familiarize ourselves with the cake-pop.

Cake Pops were ‘invented’ in 2011 by a woman who goes by the name ‘Bakerella’. On her website you will see a very happy young woman who says she was inspired to start blogging about her baking attempts after taking a cake decorating class.  I saw her website, I hope she got an A+. Maybe she didn’t invent them but she certainly is credited with bringing them into everyday conversation and to wedding sweet tables everywhere . Thank you, Bakerella.

In my quest to find out everything there is to know about cake pops I found that there are two different kinds:

1) Traditional cake-pops are made by crumbling an entire cake with some frosting into a bowl, smashing it into balls, inserting a popsicle or lollipop stick and dipping in hardening chocolate.

2) The newer version of the cake pop is made with a special baking pan that you fill with cake batter and cover with th accompanying  lid that completes the sphere to bake a  perfect circle every time. Insert stick, dip in chocolate and voila!

Of course cake-pops are not intended to replace the traditional wedding cake (but you could), they are adding another layer of deliciousness and pizazz to the sweet table (which they will). You can dip them in all kinds of toppings, sprinkles or have a great time decorating them. They are small and easy to work with, because they are on a stick and they are just the right shape. No mess, no fork, no plate, these little wonders will have you wondering…. what will they come up with next?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

It was just last year that the biggest trend on wedding sweet tables and at receptions was the cupcake. The cupcake was the hippest, hottest must-have for weddings in 2011 and I thought there couldn’t possibly be anything more fun or festive for a wedding sweet table. Guess what? I was dead wrong. I would like to introduce you to the ” Cake- Pop”.

Take a good look at this sweet little gem, you are going to be seeing a lot of it.

Cake Pops were ‘invented’ in 2011 by a woman who goes by the name ‘Bakerella’. On her website you will see a very happy young woman who says she was inspired to start blogging about her baking attempts after taking a cake decorating class.  I saw her website, I hope she got an A+. Maybe she didn’t invent them but she certainly is credited with bringing them into everyday conversation and to wedding sweet tables everywhere . Thank you, Bakerella.

In my quest to find out everything there is to know about cake pops I found that there are two different kinds:

1) Traditional cake-pops are made by crumbling an entire cake with some frosting into a bowl, smashing it into balls, inserting a popsicle or lollipop stick and dipping in hardening chocolate.

2) The newer version of the cake pop is made with a special baking pan that you fill with cake batter and cover with th accompanying  lid that completes the sphere to bake a  perfect circle every time. Insert stick, dip in chocolate and voila!

Of course cake-pops are not intended to replace the traditional wedding cake (but you could), they are adding another layer of deliciousness and pizazz to the sweet table (which they will). You can dip them in all kinds of toppings, sprinkles or have a great time decorating them. They are small and easy to work with, because they are on a stick and they are just the right shape. No mess, no fork, no plate, these little wonders will have you wondering…. what will they come up with next?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Ever since the First Lady, Michelle Obama, showed up with bangs last week , the media has gone wild! The truth is that all it it takes is something as simple as one very  highly visible person to modify their appearance for a trend to slowly take hold. On the other hand, this style change was more like the “Shot Heard Around The World.” Every program, every channel was asking the burning question, “What do you think of the First Lady’s bangs?” For a brief moment, there was no debt ceiling, no fiscal cliff and no gun control ….. just bangs. In honor of Mrs. Obama, here is my salute to bangs- of all lengths and kinds!

Long bangs – Defined as long bits of hair  that frame the face but come to the middle of the eye …at least! Long bangs look great with layered hair . It all  frames the face at the same time and is very slimming.

Long Bangs  look equally great with short hair.

Side bangs – Any length of bangs that are swept  to one side. Side bangs are great if you have a cowlick in the front of your hairline and they are soft and flattering to the face.

Pixie Bangs -  This is what my bangs looked like when I cut them myself as a young girl and also the last time I got my haircut and wanted to strangle the hairdresser. Really great on small faces or with short, wispy hair… not on me!

Blunt Bangs are cut straight across with no feathering. Blunt bangs are difficult to wear for some and absolutely perfect on others. Bunt pixie bangs are an odd choice but, there is something for everyone.

Which brings us to the most popular style, the current style worn by the first  lady, the Curved Bangs. Curved bangs frame the face on the sides and look really flattering on almost everyone.

They are tapered into layered or blunt cut hair.

Most importantly, they are long enough  to be incorporated into the hair or slicked back  if necessary but, no so long that they obscure your eyesight.

The right bangs will make you look and feel 10 years younger. Be careful, though and DON’T Experiment with bangs unless you have a solid 3 months to completely grow out any mistakes!! My advice: Start early if you are feeling the ‘urge to splurge’ on bangs!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

It only takes a few days with single digit temperatures for couples to open up to the idea of a destination wedding.

For many years,  destination weddings have been on the rise.  Usually held at tropical locations, they combine the honeymoon with the wedding itself. Guests travel to the location and can spend up to a week celebrating with the couple.

 There are several reasons that couples opt for a destination wedding… one of which is  to save money! Believe it or not, couples who  have destination weddings typically spend less overall.

According to Travel & Leisure magazine, the top wedding destinations are as follows:

1) Mexico. No surprise here. Mexico is close and  entices couples with its warm, sunny weather, colorful culture, extensive coastline, spicy cuisine, and wide choice of accommodations. You will not be disappointed.

2) Jamaica. A lush island, Jamaica has beaches, waterfalls, mountains to explore. With more all-inclusives than anywhere else in the Caribbean and a reggae beat, and it’s no wonder it’s so popular!

3) Dominican Republic. With fine boutique hotels and price-competitive all-inclusives, this is a wonderful place to begin your lives together.

4) Bahamas. Just off the coast of Florida you can find everything you want whether you opt for developed Nassau, Freeport, Paradise, and Grand Bahama Island or one of the low-key Out Islands.

5) Hawaii. You don’t have to bring a passport to enjoy a tropical paradise, just ask anyone who has ever been to Hawaii.

Honorable Mention goes to any of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether you choose St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John, you will not have any problems except deciding which of these islands is best for you. They are all magnificent and they are all U.S. territories so there are no legal hassles.

No matter which destination you choose   it is important to use a reputable Destination Wedding Specialist. They will know all of the in’s,  out’s and pitfalls of the particular resort you have chosen. They will also more than likely be able to get you a better deal and more extras.  You can do it all by yourself but, it can be quite a bit of stress.

Better to sit back, relax and stick a little umbrella in your drink!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Few colors can transcend seasons  like Chartreuse. Bold, Bright, Chic, Lively and Elegant, this is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood wedding colors!

Chartreuse  can freshen up any room and goes well with most interior decor. Bonus: It is a great color for a signature cocktail, even if your cocktail is simply Chartreuse.

 Chartreuse and Teal make a bright, bold statement when paired together.

Chartreuse and Platinum make a sophisticated and more serene combination.

Chartreuse and Honeysuckle is light, whimsical and well suited for a summer wedding. 

Chartreuse and Ivory is elegant and chic.

Chartreuse and Fuchsia is hot for spring.

Chartreuse and Plum make a luscious combination for a winter wedding.

Black and White with Chartreuse accents is the perfect choice for any season!

How do you feel about chartreuse?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago