Well this is some very exciting news! I am so thrilled to announce that today my very good friends over at Hitched in Washington DC are opening Hitched Maids, a fresh, fun bridesmaid dress shop just upstairs from the bridal boutique. What’s even more exciting? They are celebrating with a 10% discount off any bridesmaid dress purchased during the month of June. So head on over and check out some frocks by Amsale, Anna Elyse, Jenny Yoo, Lela Rose, Simple Silhouettes and Thread.

Photos by Kate Headley

We also had the most delicious boxed lunch provided by Design Cuisine in these adorable boxes by Smock Paper.

After the conference we were hosted for cocktails and more yummyness over at The Hive by the ladies from Ritzy Bee, Kate Headley Photography & Simplesong Design.

And what did we get to take home with us? This awesome tote filled with goodies from our conference sponsors.

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of these wonderful people so please be sure to visit their sites/ blogs and leave them some love on our behalf. Okay?

Flory Photo, The Hive at 1511, The Pink Initiative, Smock, Chronicle Books, Paloma’s Nest, Williams-Sonoma, Martha Stewart for Crane & Co., Whisker Works, Santa Barbara Preserves, David Tutera, Envelopments, Chewing The Cud, Rust Designs, Emersonmade, Wedgwood, 9Spot Monk, La Boheme, Rembrandt, Foot Petals, iomoi, Viv & Ingrid, Delphine, Bridal Reflections, Sycamore Street Press, Scout Books, Pottery Barn and Thoughtful Day.

Okay, I have been so insanely busy lately that I have been neglecting my Unbride duties. However I am happy to report that I will be hanging out in DC in just over a week with all of the finest ladies in wedding blogging at the B-List meet up. I fully expect that all of that amazing creative energy will revitalize me and bring me back all of my wedding blogging mojo. And if you are a wedding vendor, we want to meet you in person!

Our meet & greet cocktail reception will be held at The Torpedo Factory on Friday April 16th from 7-10pm. Space is limited so be sure to get your tickets now. Can’t wait to see all of you there!

Ok, our Fashionista Fridays post is going up on Saturday morning…oops. Click over to Gilt Group this weekend for amazing sales on designers Amsale, Carolina Herrera, and Vera Wang.

Not a member? Click here to join.

{You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this gift.}

Introducing Eclectic Images: Our Featured UnBride Vendor. Here is some information about them in their own words.

I found the above message in a fortune cookie years ago. It came at a pivotal point in my life when I was feeling unfulfilled with my then job (in finance) and I felt a stirring inside for something more. At that point I decided I was going to do whatever it took to become a photographer, even if that meant working at the mall portrait studio (which I did!) After “paying my dues” for a few years working at the portrait studio and also at a local newspaper as a photojournalist and shooting weddings part time, I finally jumped in full time about 5 years ago. And I’ve loved every moment since.

A little more about me – my name is Heather Banks and I specialize in weddings and portraits, though my motto is that I’ll shoot anything. I live in Austin, Texas with my husband Mike (we’re newlyweds!) and our two Boston Terriers, Linus and Moo, in a groovy 1970’s house that we are currently remodeling (we call it our brady bunch house). I’m also opening a studio soon in the fabulous East Village Lofts on East 11th Street right in the heart of Austin.

In addition to taking wedding photos and family and senior portraits all around Austin and central Texas, I’m also a destination wedding photographer, I’ve photographed weddings all over Mexico and also in St. Kitts, Barbados, Napa, and Martha’s Vineyard to name a few.

www.eclecticimagesphotography.com

512-947-7864
info@eclecticimagesphotography.com

Hey ladies,

Hope you all had a delicious Valentine’s Day, I did!!! Just wanted to tell you to take a minute this morning to check out the Bridal Bubbly Blog which is written by some of my favorite DC wedding planners. You can win your very own dress (which you can design yourself) by Coco Myles, all you have to do is head over and vote. Each of the ladies from Engaging Affairs has designed her own Coco Myles dress and put together an inspiration board to go along with it.

Good luck Unbrides, hope one of you wins!!!

Items in this set:

Photos: Alexander McQueen

Hello, Unbrides! Sorry for the sporadic blogging. We’ve had some technical and full plate issues. But we seem to be a bit beyond both…and back to our “un” child.

The following story came from my mother-in-law, who reads our blog, bless her. Probably been passed around the internet a million times, but it got me thinking about what that graceful (un) dress might look like? So this a homage to my mother-in-law MaryLee, who has passed down some absolutely gorgeous vintage numbers to me, including  her own wedding dress. Also, one of the most graceful women I know. So what better to knock that new young wife down to size than with vintage Dior or this gorg 1950’s cocktail dress by Jonathan Logan, I found at Vintageous. Worn with a ravishing smile. After you read the story, let us know what dress comes to mind.

Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement – not even her parent’s nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear, and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new, young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!

Jennifer asked her father’s new young wife to exchange it, but she refused.  ”Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress, and  I’m wearing it,” she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, ”Never mind sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.”

A few days later, they went shopping, and did find another gorgeous dress for her mother.

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, ”Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion  where you could  wear it.”

Her mother just smiled and replied, ”Of course I do, dear…..I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.”

BTW, check twitter for our Laura Gibson Earrings winner! Was it you?

credits: debutanteclothing.com, vintageous.com

Here at The Unbride we support the rights of all adults to marry whomever they choose. So I was actually rather shocked to see that this person instead felt offended that she had paid money for a piece of literature that would show images of a same sex couple being affectionate with one another. Now I understand perfectly well that not everyone agrees with me on this issue, that has been made perfectly clear. But to think that your personal political (almost always religious) views should be followed by a publication just because you read it is ridiculous and small-minded. I read all sorts of things that I don’t believe in but I’m not about to start writing letters to the editor whining about why they don’t only write things I agree with. Sounds like someone out there believes that wedding magazines should be censored? Ridiculous!

So we would love to wish Jeremy & Andrew our deepest congratulations and send some props over to everyone over at Martha Stewart Weddings for being open-minded and inclusive of all types of love. See more of this beautiful couple’s day at www.asgoodasyou.org.

Okay, I admit it…I totally dropped the ball on the whole Facebook fan page for The Unbride. I created one ages ago and then I just forgot to tell anyone or post anything there. So will you please be our fan so that we have a reason to post updates there? Thanks ladies (& gents), adore you all!

xo,

Justine

We are loving this Maison Michel, Uffie miniature top hat with veil. Wear it with your strapless couture wedding dress or paired with skinny white jeans and a faux white stole, for a completely unbride look.

Our guest blogger and resident musicologist (also known as my hubby), has created a great list of some anxiety ridden songs for the eve before your wedding. Play them at your rehearsal dinner or request a few from the jukebox as you celebrate your last hours of being single. Nothin’ but lovesongs on your wedding day, but the day before… Here are some tunes to do a knock-kneed dance to, or just to have a laugh.

Mad World – Tears For Fears

Overkill – Men At Work

Shotgun Down The Avalanche – Shawn colvin

Paranoid Android – radiohead

I Wanna Get Married – Nellie McKay

Your Wife Is Cheatin On Us Again  – Wayne Kemp

You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly – Loretta Lynne

Reception: The Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY. Makeup artist: Michelle Albuquerque, SNIPITY DO DAH

I almost fell off my treadmill about a week ago, when I opened up my Sunset Magazine and saw a huge feature on our friend Diana Sproveri, designer pastry chef and her dessert parties. Diana is a fellow Buffalo girl, who creates melt-in-your-mouth and oh-so-pretty desserts. She won’t be doing weddings until the Spring of 2010, you if you hurry, you might be able to book her for a bridal shower. Or instead of the giant 45 layer wedding cake order a few dozen Lollibakes. With flavors like Red Velvet, Coconut Macaroon, Pumpkin Spice or Peppermint Bark, there is something delicious for everyone at your wedding. Plus, you don’t have to stop dancing to enjoy your wedding cake.

Here at the UnBride we are all things Unique and Unusual. Especially when it comes to individual artisans sharing their wares. There is no better place in Los Angeles than the annual Unique LA. If you are looking for Jewelry, fashion or letterpress vendors for your wedding, OR an amazing place to buy Holiday gifts…this is it! You can also just walk around and drink in all those creative juices (that’s what I will be doing). Stop by our friend Carrie’s booth for Anemone Letterpress, and give her an UnBride hello.

We thought this Thanksgiving holiday might be a good time for us (here at the UnBride) to talk about what we are thankful for.

From Lauren: I am so thankful for my amazing family! Even though we are on opposite coasts, we have managed to become closer than ever. I am also thankful to be a part of the Unbride family and excited for Ellen to join our family as an honorary Ungaro sister!

From Bethany: I am Thankful for both Loehmann’s and Thomas Wylde, although the two are mutually exclusive. I am thankful for Hendrix, The Pixies, and the fact that my son will soon outgrow his love of The Fresh Beat Band. I am thankful for Nutella and well done bacon, but not together. Most of all I am thankful for those I love, that I am loved, and for the fact that I will never take either for granted.

From Justine: I am thankful to have an incredibly close family & friends who feel like family. I am thankful to have found and married the love of my life. And I am thankful that through my work, I get to make people happy almost every day.

From Ellen: I am thankful that despite starting two businesses in a major recession, we are surviving. I am thankful for my UnBride sisters and the inspiration I get from it (and them) everyday. I am thankful for my friends and family, who completely support and love me. Finally, I am oh so thankful for my gorgeous girls and my amazing husband, they truly are my everything.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

Recently Emily & Andrew moved out to Los Angeles to begin their new life together and Andrew launched his own new video company so be sure to check them out. Visit Stereo Waltz Films to see some of the amazing work he has on there.

And especially check out Emily & Andrew’s own incredible video here.