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Wedding Traditions

Don’t let your “something blue” get you blue!

These days, wedding traditions are becoming a little more a la carte; pick the ones you like and leave the ones you don’t. Does the thought of the garter toss make you gag? Forget it! Don’t want all eyes on you (and your not “Dancing With The Stars” ready moves) during the first dance? Skip it! It’s your day, after all, so just do what you like! One tradition we still love, though, is the classic “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. It’s a good one because it doesn’t affect the flow of your big day, and basically gives you an excuse to add some rockin’ pieces to your already killer ensemble! Typically, it’s the last one that gives brides the most trouble. It’s not always easy to incorporate something blue into your bridal look, so today’s blog is dedicated to some fun, unique ways to do just that!
Temporary Tattoo – For my sister’s recent bachelorette party, the gold “Team Bride” faux tattoos that I selected were a HUGE hit! They’re easy, inexpensive, and perfect for a fun photo op! So, why not rock one on your big day? Just find your perfect, discreet spot and go! P.S. we love these that we found on Etsy!

Only $3.49? A Something Blue bargain!

Perfume – If you’re up for something a little less literal, Oscar de la Renta makes a gorgeous scent called “Something Blue” that would totally do the trick. Plus, you’ll have tons leftover for your honeymoon and beyond!
Makeup – No, we’re not talking about that horrid blue eyeshadow of the 80’s! We were more thinking of a chic navy eyeliner, mascara, or even a soft blue mani and/or pedi. You have to get your makeup/nails done anyways so why not check “something blue” off of your to-do list at the same time!
Blue petticoat – Looking to add some volume to your bridal gown? A petticoat is an easy and inexpensive way to do so, and they come in tons of great colors so you can opt for a blue one if you like! It will remain hidden the majority of the day, but makes for a fun surprise when it’s time to kick up your heels and hit the dance floor!

Tell us – what’re you doing for your Something Blue??

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Share the love on on your wedding day

How to show your guests you care!

In general, we like to keep things as light and happy as possible. After all, we’re in the wedding industry, which is chock full of love and joy! When something as tragic as the recent event in Orlando happens, though, we (and I’m sure many of you) find it difficult to see the light. What makes this particular event especially hard to handle is the fact that these poor, innocent people in Florida may have been targeted because of who they love. Being in the industry of love, that’s something that we find extremely difficult to bear. Everyone has the right to love, and that’s something we at Flair will always believe in and fight for. For now, we feel that the best way to begin to heal is to focus on just that, love. No day is a guarantee so it’s important, now more than ever, to show your loved ones that you care. A perfect day to do? Your wedding day! Everyone you adore will be in one room, so why not take the extra step to shower them with love? Here are a few ideas:
Flowers for all – Generally speaking, it’s only the most “important” people who get flowers at a wedding; the bridal party, mother of the bride, etc. Why not talk to your florist, though, about having a flower station set up for all of your guests before/after the ceremony? The ladies can grab a couple of stunning stems to carry, and the guys can pin a bloom to their jackets. It’s a fun favor idea and a great way to for everyone to feel loved and truly a part of your big day!
Photo place cards – Take some time ahead of the wedding to pull together photos of you and/or your fiancé with all of your attendees. Shrink them down and incorporate them next to the names on your place cards. It will be a fun surprise when your guests look for their seats, and they’ll love to look back on that memory with you.
Cheers…to them! – There will of course be speeches toasting you and your fiancé, but what will really be a surprise is if the two of you stand up and turn the tables on them! Take a few minutes to tell your guests how special they are to you and how happy you are that they’re there for your big day. After all, when you have them all in the same room again? Take advantage of this moment and spread the love!
Remember their milestones – Did any of your guests get married this year too? Or celebrate a big anniversary? Or have a baby? Take a section of your program and/or menu to call out their accomplishments. They’re sure to be touched and know how much you truly care!

Whatever you do, don’t let the busyness of your big day detract from the real reason everyone is there – love! They love you, you love them, and they’re all there to celebrate the love between you and your fiancé. Keep that in mind above all else and you’re sure to have the perfect wedding day!

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Bridesmaids’ Gifts

A+ Presents for your Best Girls!

Not to toot our own horn, but we work pretty hard to keep our blog and fresh and full of original content (toot toot). One topic we like to repeat every now and then, though, is an important one; bridesmaids’ gift ideas! While it is a fun thing to shop for, it’s not without its pressures. After all, these girls have been at your bridal beck and call for months, so they definitely deserve something special! If you’re in need of some ideas, here are some of our favorite, new gift ideas:
Luxury phone cases – Let’s face it, we all want to splurge on the designer cases from Bloomingdales and Bergdorfs, but we tend to talk ourselves out of them before hitting “Add to Cart.” Bridesmaids’ gifts are the perfect opportunity to opt for something somewhat frivolous and definitely fabulous for your best girls! Added bonus: your girls probably pick up their phones, like, a million times a day, and now they’ll think of you every time!
Kindle – These days, you can snag a Kindle (or something similar) for under $100, so why not get one for each of your girls! Go the extra mile and download a book that you think she’ll love, or that reminds you of her, for a thoughtful, yet practical gift!
High end liquor and accompanying glasses – I don’t know about you, but when I go to the liquor store, I tend to auto-pilot to, well, the cheap section. I rarely splurge on a high-end, high-quality bottle, and if you think your girls are in the same boat, head to your favorite packy and go straight for the rapper approved, expensive section! Whether it be wine, vodka or whiskey, choose a fancy bottle of their favorites and pair it with chic glasses for a gift that’s sure to have them toasting to you!
The classic – As I’m always telling my husband, you can never go wrong with jewelry! The same goes for your bridesmaids, so if you’re having trouble finding just the right thing, opt for the bling! Whether it’s something you want them to wear on the big day, or just a fun piece to add to their everyday wardrobe, your girls are sure to love something new, special, and sparkly!

If you want to go the jewelry route, Flair has tons of stunning sparklers from Elizabeth Bower and other fab designers!

Tell us – what are you getting for your bridesmaids??

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Bridesmaids’ Shoes

Find the perfect pair for your pals

Seeing as Flair is a dress shop, we tend to focus on, well, dresses of course! Even we know, though, that much more goes into a wedding day look than just the dress. From hair and makeup to accessories, it’s these other details that really finalize your look and add a quick pop of personality. One of our favorite details? Shoes! Let’s face it, most of us ladies can happily shoe shop for hours, never tiring and never getting bored. Shoe shopping for a wedding, though, can come with a little more pressure than your average day at the shops. When it comes to bridesmaids’ shoes, there are a few things you brides should consider before you let your girls loose at the mall:

At Flair, most of the shoes that we keep in store for girls to try on are by Nina Shoes. They're super comfortable, affordable, and have tons of heel height, style and color variety!

At Flair, most of the shoes that we keep in store for girls to try on are by Nina Shoes. They’re super comfortable, affordable, and have tons of style, heel height, and color variety!

Uniformity – You probably made a similar decision when it came to your girls’ dresses – to match or not to match? If you really like that clean, matching look, then really the shoe shopping is up to you, not your girls. Find a style you like and give them their marching/shopping orders. If you’re less concerned about them looking the same, consider just telling them a color you prefer and letting them do their own thing!
Style – Even if you’re OK with your girls’ shoes being different, you may still want to consider giving them a little guidance when it comes to their overall shoe vibe. If you say “buy anything you like in black” you risk the chance of getting a wide range of styles. Imagine a glorified flip flop next to a black sparkly pump. Doesn’t really work, right? To avoid that, think about guiding them in the right direction by showing them a few pairs you like, or using descriptive words like “formal sandals” or “patent pumps”; whatever you like!
Height – Some brides hate a kitten heel, while others would die if one of their bridesmaids showed up in a 6 inch heel. Think about where you fall on that spectrum and be honest with your girls before you send them out to shop. If you opted for floor length bridesmaids’ dresses, height is even more important. Have each girl try her dress on with a few pairs she already owns to determine what heel height allows for her dress to just hit the floor. The last thing you want is for a girl’s dress to be that tacky few inches off of the ground!

Tell us – what shoes do you want your girls to wear??

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Mother of the Bride Gift Ideas

Give your special lady something as wonderful as she is!

No bride is an island. Even the Type A among us have to admit that wedding planning is tough, and most definitely requires some assistance. For many of us, help comes in the form of a mother figure. While not all of us are lucky enough to have our actual mothers there with us on our big days, chances are most of us have a lovely lady who quietly and capably takes on that role. Whether she’s your future mother in law, grandmother, aunt, or even a great friend, this wonderful woman has probably attended numerous appointments with you, and put in serious hours letting you vent your wedding related frustrations. So, she probably deserves an amazing gift worthy of all of that time and effort, right? Right! If you’re in need of some ideas, check out some unique options below:
1) Make her feel like one of the girls – Most brides search for something matching for their bridesmaids (robes, monogrammed shirts, etc.) to wear on the morning of the wedding. Cue adorable photo ops! When you find your cute couture, why not order one extra for your mom? She’ll appreciate being included in your core group of favorite females and will love the chance to be a part of those matching morning of photos!
2) Give her your time – Chances are, your mom has clocked some major hours helping with the wedding, so it’s only fair you give her a few hours of yours in return, right? Think about what she loves and plan an outing for just the two of you. Whether it’s a day at the spa, a cooking class, or even just dinner and a movie, she’s sure to be thrilled to share some non-wedding related time with you.
3) Appeal to her sense of smell – There are tons of great places these days to create your own perfume, so why not use your knowledge of your mom’s favorite things to custom make one just for her! If she loves the beach, add in some notes of sea air and salt. If she has a sweet tooth, load up on vanilla. Using what you know and love about her to create the perfect scent is a recipe for a thoughtful, home run gift!
4) From mother earth to your mother – Living gifts are a totally fun, modern trend! From a magnolia tree to a rose bush to a lemon tree, there’s truly something for every mom. Plant it together when you have some down time. She’ll love spending that time with you, and whenever she sees her plant in the future, she’ll think of you!

How adorable is this magnolia tree?? You can find it and many more “living gifts” at seedsoflife.com. Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Tell us – what are you planning to get for the special lady in your life?

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Tara Keely Bridal

See what this amazing designer has in store for you this Spring!

Spring, we love ya. After every winter, we can always count on you to bring us budding flowers, (slightly) warmer temperatures, chirping birds, and more. Your game is re-birth and all things new, and we’re diggin’ it. That’s why we jam packed our Spring with tons of trunk shows. Sticking with the “new” trend, this Spring we’re beyond pumped to show all of our Flair friends what’s fresh and current in the bridal world. Up next, we have Tara Keely! Brides, Tara Keely is going to be your new BFF. She’s all about finding the perfect mix of sex appeal and elegance, which, let’s face it, is pretty much every bride’s dream! Here’s what you can expect from her brand new 2016 collection:

Go for the gold – Tara Keely used this STUNNING Ivory and Gold lace on a couple of her new 2016 gowns, and the result is pure, opulent beauty!

Seriously, that gold lace is the perfect pop of shine!

Give ‘em the hot shoulder – Only 1 dress in TK’s new collection covers the shoulders, so prepare for plenty of pretty décolletage and gorge over the shoulder photos. Swoon!

Style TK2600, we’re kinda obsessed with you. Modest sleeves with that rocking decolletage – swoon city!

Just a hint of lace – In the past, it seemed like bridal gowns either came covered in lace or without any at all. Tara Keely is here for all of the brides looking for something in the middle. A bunch of her stunning new styles feature lace accents mixed with other materials, for the bride who wants it all!

We’re liking this “lace light!”

Waists on waists on waists – Literally every gown in Tara Keely’s new collection hits the waist at that perfect, narrow spot that we all want to show off. Yeah, she’s got your back (and waist). Bonus: a bunch even come with a built in belt; an easy way to add some bling to your bridal look!

See what we mean? Tiny waist alert!

Want to see for yourself? Give us a ring to book your spot for this can’t miss bridal fashion event!

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Gowns that Give

Amy Kuschel’s Philanthropic Program

Speaking from experience, I know how easy it can be to forget about the rest of the world when planning your wedding. It takes up all of your free time, and dominates most of your conversations. I, for example, totally forgot about my parent’s anniversary in the midst of my own planning haze. Face palm. I could have used a little reminder that while my wedding was certainly important, it was not the only important thing. Amy Kuschel has always done a great job of reminding brides of just that, with her “Gowns that Give” campaign. Talk about the best of both worlds! You get the gown of your dreams for your important day, while an equally important charity gets a portion of said gown’s profits. Look good, and do good; it’s a no-brainer! Here are some of the stunning styles that are a part of the program:

The Boston gown (a fave of ours, duh) benefits The Trevor Project

Chic Charleston benefits The Breast Cancer Fund

A portion of hottie Harlow’s funds goes towards The Sierra Club

Pretty Roxy (the dress, though the dog is cute too!) benefits The San Francisco SPCA

Can’t wait to see these charitable cuties on our brides at our Amy Kuschel designer event this weekend!!

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Fitness Tips for Brides

Be your best self by the big day!

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that no two brides are alike. Even those that purchase the same gown accessorize it to their taste and make it totally unique and their own. If we did have to pick one commonality among brides, though, it would probably be that all of them have some sort of fitness plan. Whether it’s major weight loss or just striving for more toned arms (aren’t we all!), we have a feeling that pretty much every 2016 bride has fitness on the brain in the new year. So, we decided to pull together some tips to make even the most frazzled bride’s fitness routine fun and easy:

This fun and quick 15 minute workout is perfect for the busy bride!

1) Write it down – Jot down your fitness goals/routine somewhere you look often. Keeping them in the forefront of your mind and out in the open will likely help you to stick to them. It will also help you evaluate your plans. If they take up a whole page, you’re probably trying to tackle too much. Start with the attainable; you can always add more later!
2) Grab a partner – Whether it’s your Mom, fiancé, or bridesmaid, there are a ton of other people who are probably also looking to get in shape for the big day. Plan to work out together, to motivate and keep each other on track. Plus, it’s just more fun when you’re not going it alone!
3) Stay hydrated – There are endless benefits to those eight daily glasses of H2O. They help to boost your metabolism, keep your energy up for your work outs, and brighten your skin, to name a few. So no matter what your fitness goals, this step should be a must for ALL brides!
4) Reward yourself – Most people who establish a fitness routine do really well in the beginning when it’s fresh, new, and dare we say, fun. Cut to a month or so later, though, and it gets harder and harder to stay faithful to your plan. If you fall into that category, we have one thing to say to you: a little bribe never hurt anyone! Commit to working out 4 days next week, for example, and treat yourself to a manicure if you stick to it. Lose those 10 pesky pounds and get that rehearsal dress you’ve been coveting. Decide what motivates you and use it to your advantage!

Tell us – do you have any tips for staying on the fitness straight and narrow? We’d love to hear them!

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Wedding Stationery and Inspiration Boards

Plan your wedding in style, and stress free!

With the holidays now over and a new year begun, have your social media feeds been taken over by bling and bent knees? The holiday season brings about more proposals than any other time of year, so we have a feeling you’ve seen your fair share. With all of those new brides and grooms-to-be out there, we figured now was the perfect time to chat about one of our favorite resources for engaged couples – the inspiration board! One of the toughest things about wedding planning is making decisions on various items and not really knowing until the big day if they actually go together. Putting them side by side on an inspiration board is an easy, and free, way to get a sense of how your choices will meld on your wedding day. Plus, they are a great visual to provide your vendors with; giving them a good sense of your preferences. One of our designers, The Dessy Collection, has a super user-friendly inspiration board builder for anyone who wants to get started. That’s where we built ours, with the phenomenal Paperless Post as our muse.

Paperless Post is a must for engaged couples. They have tons of style options at prices to accommodate any and every budget. Plus, their site is so well organized and easy to navigate; a major plus for couples overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number of choices out there. Check out a couple of our favorite stationery designs in the inspiration boards below:

The “Love Struck” save the date card (top left corner) caught our eye for several reasons. It has visual appeal, but isn’t too busy, and we’re OBSESSED with arrows as a wedding theme. Maybe it’s the cupid connection, but for some reason the arrow, when done right, strikes us as a totally modern and chic symbol of romance. We also love the colors. The periwinkle shade is totally on trend (think the new Pantone color of the year “Serenity”), and we’re always a sucker for gold. We popped in a little bit of that gorgeous, rich shade of deep raspberry as another accent, to make this palette lean more “romantic wedding” than baby shower. Speaking of which, though, this card set would also totally work for a shower (baby or wedding)!

The “Marbelized” wedding invitation drew us in immediately. It totally hits on what we think will be a big trend in the coming years – using natural elements for your wedding décor. Whether it’s marble, agate, or reclaimed wood, these “green” elements are perfect for a contemporary barn wedding, or even a city fete looking to add a pop of nature to their big day. And those classic, stunning shades of blush, black, grey, gold, and lilac? Tres chic!

For all of the newly engaged couples out there, head on over to Dessy’s website to create your own inspiration boards, and be sure to hit up Paperless Post early in your planning process. After all, the save the date and invitation are the first hint of your wedding style your guests will see, so be sure to mail them off in style!

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2016 Bridal Trends

Ring in the new year in style!

The end of December is all about reflecting on the past year. You can’t turn on the radio without hearing a countdown of the top songs of 2015, for example, while all of the news channels are reminiscing about the year’s biggest headlines. We’re all for it, let’s just not recall those resolutions we made back in January. Forget about those, instead let’s shift our focus to the future! We’re ready for a new year, and definitely pumped for some new bridal styles! Here are some trends we think will be huge in 2016:
Feathers: Every year, brides get bolder and bolder with their style, and in 2016 that might just come in the form of feathers. Romantic, soft, and flowy, feathers have just what you need to create a modern yet not too outside of the box bridal look. Aria’s Veronica dress is a perfect way to dip your toe into the feather pond. It makes a great reception dress, so you can take part in the feather trend while still wearing a more traditional look for your ceremony.

Embroidered Illusion detail: By now, we’ve all become familiar with illusion necklines. They’re a great way to have the support of a strapped top but the look of a strapless. Now it was time for designers to take this look one step further, and one way they’re doing so is by adding embellishments to their illusion styles. It gives an almost 3D look that is super fresh, modern and unique! The Elodie gown from Willowby by Watters makes this trend look good!

Keyhole tops: I don’t know about you but I loved me a keyhole top back in junior high. It was an easy compromise for me and my mom; mostly covered but with a little hint of skin! The same principles work for a bride. Most don’t want to show too much skin in front of their families, but still want to show a little for their future spouse 😉 Hayley Paige’s Zahira dress is a totally modern take on this “best of both worlds” look!

Lingerie inspired looks: This is a whole new way to bring the sex appeal on your big day! Lingerie inspired slip dresses were huge on the recent bridal runways, and why not?? They are the perfect mix of comfortable, lightweight, and sexy. You’ve been forewarned, though; these clingy beauties will almost definitely require a Spanx underneath. If you’re not into this particular look but still want to pop in a little lingerie to your style, opt for the already popular corset top!

Left: Amy Kuschel’s Ginger gown Right: Jenny Yoo’s Celine gown with applique

Tiered skirts: Gone are the days of the single layer skirt! Popping in a few tiers is an easy way to add volume, interest, and drama to your look. Depending on the fabric, it doesn’t add a ton of weight, either. Whether you add one tier or a bunch, you’re sure to have a current, gorgeous look. Need proof? Tara Keely style 2609 is a tiered dream!

See you in 2016, Boston brides and bridesmaids 🙂

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