Tuesday Shoe Day | Bootie crushing on Aruna Seth

So swooning over this gorgeous grey suede bootie by Aruna Seth.

Perfect for glam evenings, pair with your favorite dress or skinny jeans.
Extremely comfortable due to the special padding.

xo

Winter Wonderland Wedding Inspired Shoot

In Rochester, New York they live in a world of lake effect snow. This styled shoot is the perfect way to showcase how truly beautiful it can be in the winter and inspire those who were dreaming up winter wedding of their own. Maura and her team at SasSaFras Flowers used the theme of jewels and ice to inspire an elegant winter wedding scene at Warner Castle in Highland Park. The team was completed with Ryan, hair stylist and owner at Salon Raven, Moire’s Millinery who provided incredibly unique handcrafted headpieces, and Bella Carta Studio who created custom paper goods.

Details:
Photographer:  Mary Dougherty Photography
Hair Stylist:  Salon Raven
Floral Designer:  Sassafras Flowers
Stationer:  Bella Carte Studio
Veils and headpieces:  Moire's millinery
Venue:  Warner Castle

xo

A NY Wedding Show | An Afternoon of Cocktails with The Parlour Brooklyn

xo

Thursday Trend Day | Custom Wedding Map Totes by Maptote

MapTote! A bride's best friend, these crafty totes can be personalized or custom designed as keepsakes for your special guests. Getting married in Manhattan? They have a map tote for that. Brooklyn? Long Island? New Jersey? They have one for that too! You can even have one that is custom! Think mapping where you will get married to where you got engaged to where your bridal shower will be. Super cute!

Maptote products are lovingly hand screen printed by hand in their light filled studio in The Old American Can Factory, Brooklyn. The Maptote range includes environmentally friendly reusable totes, note cards, wine totes, baby onesies and toiletry travel cases – all with their signature schematic maps of popular cities featuring the most popular neighborhoods, icons, and landmarks.

Wanting to capture your ceremony and reception locations, or share the story of where you got engaged and your hometowns? Embrace your inner creative in finding small touches to make your wedding feel just like you, such as filling your customized tote with local goodies to make your guests remember the celebration long after the sparklers have been packed away.

Then choose from an entire alphabet of fun buttons to decorate your totes with pops of color.  Spell out the initials of your wedding party's names, and use sweet heart and plus buttons to splash your message all over totes or clothing.

Fun, right?!

xo

New York Real Wedding Engagement Shoot with Parris Whittingham

I'm in LOVE with this engagement photo shoot by Parris Whittingham! Their Story by Parris:
East meets West is a styled shoot that we created for newlyweds Stephen & Uma.
Stephen was raised Catholic in America. Uma was raised Hindu in the US and India.

Getting married presented the challenge of bringing two cultures together for 1 celebration.
Captured on the grounds of St.Johns Cathedral; East meet West honors the fusion of Indian and American culture.

I was also lucky enough to interview Parris and ask him more about him and his photography.

What makes Parris Whittingham Studio unique? 
To help answer this question, we asked Patty Sung (engaged). Her reply: you are not just taking pictures, you are telling a love story with the photos. This is exactly what we are looking for. And you took the initiative to want to learn and understand each love story, which we believe is the only way to capture the essence of a relationship.

What services do you provide?
We document remarkable love stories through photographic essays and cinematic films.

What can you advise brides and couples to be aware of or avoid when looking for a photographer?
Instead of focusing on WHAT you get (how many of these and those questions), discover WHY and HOW the photographers you're considering arrive at the end result. This creative process and experience, will help you better appreciate the "feel" of working with that person(s). Also, be sure to clearly state your ideas/needs/expectations up front. Waiting until after you sign a contract may reveal additional charges or bad chemistry between you and the photographer/studio.

Do you have a favorite wedding?
No. I have the pleasure of watching couples grow and learn years after marriage.

Here's a short clip on Parris and his team describing their work and passion for their client's big day.

Details:

Stylist: Niki Hall

Make-up: Brandy Gomez Duplessis

Hair: Melissa Paldino

Wardrobe: Exclusively.In  

xo

Tuesday Shoe Day | Shoe Crush | J.Crew Shoes

Today is a fun post with some shoes I'm crushing from JCrew lately. Aren't they cute! I loved the striped preppy ones but the marigold color is also a fave. I can so see wearing them for a lovely Sunday brunch or just wearing them for everyday wedding excursions ;)
What do you think? Any shoes you are crushing lately?

xo

The Dessy Group Introduces the Pantone Wedding Chiplette and 2012 Fan Guide

So we all know that I love the Dessy Group and even used their pretty dresses in my wedding. They have great options for bridesmaid dresses, and flower girls and they will all match exactly in color and fabric. Well now the Dessy Group and Pantone (the color system that all of us designers use) are working closely together to create a color reference based on Dessy’s color ways and the Pantone Fashion + Home color system. Stemming from Dessy Group fabrics, each color is measured and matched up to a corresponding Pantone color.

The new Wedding Chiplettes allow the bride-to-be to find the perfect color palette for her dream wedding. Each 4” X 1.75” Pantone Wedding™ Chiplette is a full color card with the Pantone TPX reference number. A QR code is printed on the back of each Chiplette, which can be scanned to return a mobile user to the Dessy.com site. The bride can then share her color choices with the wedding party and distribute them to wedding florists, caterers, bakers and invitation printers.

In addition to the Pantone Wedding™ Chiplette, Dessy has also developed a new Pantone Wedding™ Color Planner for exclusive use with chiplettes. Each planner can accommodate up to six individual chiplettes. The Color Planner has a bride’s checklist and six perforated chiplette holders which are dye cut to contain a chiplette. On the back of each chiplette is a place for the bride to input her contact information serving as a ‘color business card’. Dessy currently offers a complimentary Color Planner with the purchase of every 6 chiplettes.

Awesome right?!

xo

Friday Frocks | Reem Acra Trunk Show at NYC's Gabriella's Bridal Salon starts today

Reem Acra Trunk Show
January 20th, 21st, 22nd
Experience the regal designs of Reem Acra's newest bridal collection! The Fall 2012 Reem Acra gowns combine sheer layers and textures that lend an air of lightness.
By Appointment
at Gabriella's Bridal Salon
212.206.1915










xo

Thursday Trend Day | Fun Flip Flop Wedding Gifts by iPanema

While it may be the dead of winter, the spring and summer wedding season is quickly approaching! Between dress fittings, honeymoon planning, and all of the hundreds of other details that need to be finalized, many brides wait until the last minute to choose gifts for their bridesmaids... If you’re on the hunt for the perfect bridesmaid gift or a fun gift on a spa retreat with your girls, think flip-flops!
They can also be great ways to greet your guests inside a welcome gift bag if you are planning a destination wedding. I found these iPanema designs and they are super comfy and come in fun colors and styles.
It will sure to be a fun gift!

Enjoy!

New York Real Wedding | Joanna & Jan's Wedding photography by Tessie Reveliotis Photography

How fun is this wedding photographed beautifully by Tessie Reveliotis Photography?!
I love that the couple thought of running into a subway station to take some of their photos, so cute!
What do you think, will you be including more of the city in your real New York Wedding?

xo

Anthropologie's BHLDN Speak Easy Style Inspired shoot

Hello All!
I'm so excited to share this amazing eye candy for you today! This styled shoot was inspired by Anthropologie's new wedding gown line, BHLDN, who's first store opened in Houston in August. Set to the history of Houston's Speak Easy Era and time it makes for shush pretty loveliness ;)

Details:
Photographer: Christa Elyce and Laurie Perez Photography

Event Planner:  Two Be Wed
Event Designer:  Tamara Menges Designs
Stationer:  Dressy Designs
Other:  Re-collection Vintage Rentals
Makeup Artist:  Thalio Beckham Make Up Artistry
Restaurant:  Hughes Hangar


Enjoy!

Rock the Dress Films | Real wedding Video taken after the wedding day by New York Film Works

So you probably have heard of "trash the dress" photo sessions where brides are photographed the day after in their wedding dresses and either jump into water or sometimes rolling in grass just really enjoying themselves as they "trash" their dresses as the photographer captures it all on film. But now... there is also New York Film Works that actually tells a story and beautifully films your day after session. They call it "Rock the Dress NYC Films". And today I am sharing one of their film sessions.

Stylish and gorgeous bride and groom, Ginger and Ilya wed in NYC, this is a day after video session.   Super stylish, vintage and very much like a commercial, this Black and White film is set to the perfect French song and follows the couple as they walk, dance and romantically stride through NYC . They ended the night with them jumping, in full wedding attire, into the fountain of Washington Square Park.
It's really quite stunning and beautifully shot!

Enjoy!

AMSALE Trunk Show this weekend

Hey Ladies!

Amsale is having a trunk show this weekend from Jan 13-15th at their Flagship NYC store! With their latest runway gowns available, run don't walk to see the latest styles first!

xo

Thursday Trends | Dogs and family pets in Weddings | And introducing Matisse :)

Todays post is for the dogs! LOL! NO really its all about dogs, cats and pets in weddings. They are family too after all. SO many brides and grooms are choosing to include their family pets in their ceremony and weddings and I say why not! I love my little new addition and if I had him then I would have totally included him. But more on my little new pup later, back to the cute picts. The photos do make such amazing memories and of course puppies always are so photogenic ;)  So ladies, what do you think, I know so cute right? Are you going to include your four legged friend in your wedding?

Photo Sources via:
image one, image two, image three, image four, image five, image six, image seven, image eight, image nine

And now.... the inspiration for this post... MATISSE, our new addition to the Lela New York family.
I love him so! He's a little mutt and is full of spunk and LOVE! Enjoy the picts!

xo

Real Engagement in NJ | Sun filled Amazing Engagement Photo shoot

Jaime and Kevin had their amazing engagement shoot in NJ at sunset! How beautifully romantic! I love the sun drenched photos and how it reflects on their faces, simply stunning! Thanks to the amazing Vanessa Joy Photographer for submitting these images with us!

xo

Tuesday Shoe Day | Crystal Shoes

Hi All! So what's hot? Crystals are white hot right now and we love our bling here at Lela New York!
They are seen everywhere in fashion right now and shoes are always the best way to try out this trend. Today we are sharing beautiful crystal wedding shoes for your viewing eye candy - swoon :)

Sergio Rossi crystal shoes, $1,670
Giuseppe Zanotti slingback pumps, $1,370
Manolo Blahnik white satin heels, $1,295
Valentino crystal pumps, $1,195
Gucci open toe high heels, $1,100
Tory Burch metallic flat, $250

xo

New York Real Wedding | Beautiful Wedding in Mohonk

Today we are featuring an amazingly stunning New Paltz, New York wedding that was beautifully photographed by The Lovely Lens. The couple, Daria and Lukasz, were adorably humble, low-maintenance, and utterly head-over-heels for each other. Their friendly Polish families and wedding venue, Mohonk Mountain House, with breathtaking gardens and surrounding landscapes made for a stunning fall wedding. I love all the details in mauve and eggplants!

xo

Pop Up Shop | The Aisle New York | Wedding SAMPLE SALES

We all love The Aisle New York for their amazing wedding style and always below retail prices.
But now they will be hosting A New Year POP UP Sample Sale- LIVE in NYC next week- January 10th and 11th. Now you can try before you buy!

Up to 70% OFF gowns from Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Angel Sanchez, Elizabeth Fillmore, Rivini, Amsale, Jenny Yoo, Romona Keveza, Jenny Packham and more-
And don't miss their EXCLUSIVE Haute Bride Accessories Trunk Show!

RSVP to the Pop Up Sample Sale!
January 10 and 11 in New York City's SoHo
10 am to 8 pm
Space is limited. Please e-mail RSVP@theaislenewyork.com with your desired appointment time for more information. This event is by appointment only - no walk-ins will be accepted.

Enjoy!

Thursday Trend Day | 6 Minute Stories | New Wedding Video Trend

So, you're thinking of getting video for your wedding, but are scared of having a huge contraption be the center of attention that has an attached light fixture rather than you and your husband be the center of attention. Besides that you are thinking, how long is it going to take? Some videographers are great but they take anywhere from 6 months to a year before you will receive your video. Plus who uses DVD's any more? Well my friends, there is now 6 minute films!

When it comes time for your event there is only one thing that matters: having a good time. You won't even notice them as they capture some of the truly unique moments of your event. Six Minute Stories was created to capture great moments - not to interfere with them.

Once the event is over your Six Minute Story will arrive to you within a matter of days - not weeks. That's right DAYS! Gone are the days of gathering around the DVD player; your Six Minute Story will be delivered to you online and available in three sizes including full High Definition, a medium size perfect for emailing, or Facebook and small size designed for your iPhone, iPod and other mobile devices.
How cool is that!!! And let me tell you from experience once the big day is over, and it goes quick, you will be dying to see it again! As soon as possible. Check out a sample story below. Simply amazing.

Lauren and Jack did it right. After getting married the day before, they had their reception the following evening...on the beach. Shot on NEX-VG10 with an SLR Magic 35mm. Go to sixminutestories.com for more information about wedding shoots.


Lauren and Jack (2011) from Drew Lavyne on Vimeo.

Mens Wedding Styling with Julie Rath & Louis Purple

Hi Ladies,

So yes I know, it really should be all about the bride, and yes I totally agree with you that you should be pampered and looking your best. After all, it is your day! But today's post is about your man, your love bug, your fiancé ;) He is standing next to you, lol! and we want him looking and feeling his best! Besides we both know that this is his special day too. And with that note, today we will be focusing on two experts that can help you and your loved one look their very best!

Men, well, they sometimes need our help. And Julie Rath, well, she's the best when it comes to helping you help them. I met Julie not to long ago at a wedding function and she brought to my attention the real need for men stylist too. They need help, professional help ;) She's trained in making your man look his best, in whatever style that may be. She can pick what looks best on him without any of our sometimes harsh criticism and helps with choosing a wardrobe that will not only look great on the day of your wedding but for those other days too. Including your engagement parties, showers and engagement photo shoots. It will be a clean and new step into a brighter better looking future ;) for both of you.

Soon after we met I wanted to learn more about Julie's process and today I get to share what I learned with you.
It all starts with what Julie calls, a color analysis. It's where you compare different colors in a natural light to your face and see what colors work best with your complexion. Our model looked his best in a warm palette, and Julie broke it down even further into an autumn palette. I know, sounds a bit funny, but, looking at it while it was happening it was totally true! Cool colors actually brought out some imperfections in his face while the warmer, darker tones, warmed up his complexion and he looked instantly better. Whatever palette he is, Julie provides a sample color deck for him to take home. Once you have your colors you then can begin the shopping process. Otherwise, "You are shopping blind" says Julie.

Next, on to shopping! We went to the amazing Louis Purple located at 323 Lafayette, NYC to meet Charles. Charles is so delightfully helpful in his amazing store filled with wonderful couture finds for the stylish man in very affordable prices. Louis Purple offers custom shirts, vests, suits even shoes for the modern and stylish man. Perfect for the wedding day and for the other special times during your engagement that your fiancé may need to look his best. Julie and Charles continued the revamping and styling by picking out perfect fabrics for custom shirts. Who knew there were so many options to choose from?! You can pick every last detail from the fabrics, buttons to the collar styles to the stitching. You really get a custom tailored look! Charles walks you through the process and explains in detail what each selection will look like with examples from his store. It's really fun.

Once you finish you can usually expect a quick turn around of 3- 4 weeks for your custom order to arrive. Amazing right! And now you don't have to worry about what he will look like next to you ;) and besides he deserves a little pampering too, right ladies? What do you think? Will your man be sporting a custom suit or look for your big day?

A BIG thank you for all the amazing photography to Christopher Duggan. If you haven't checked his photography out, what are you waiting for?

xo

Lela is on the radio today :) Listen LIVE

Hi all! So excited to be invited to the radio show, J+J Secrets of Style and Beauty, today at 8pm on http://www.talkingalternative.com/tuesday-shows/jandjsecrets. I will be talking fashion, weddings, style, blogging and our invitations with Julie and Julia. Go to the link to listen live at 8pm. You can tweet your questions to @jnjstylebeauty and we will answer them live on the show! Please show your support and I'll talk to ya soon!

xo