What Inspires: Inside Weddings

I love Inside Weddings and Marilyn is an absolute dream to work with! She has a great eye, knows just what she wants and is never without a positive, upbeat attitude. I’m always honored when one of my clients is featured in the magazine, and I’m so happy that she is guest posting while I’m away!

Photo by Jay Lawrence Goldman

Inspired by the 1950s

The most popular trend in weddings for the last ten years (the inevitable strapless bridal gown aside) has been infusing the event with your own personal style. It’s excellent advice, of course, if you have a personal style to splash all over your wedding… but for some people, the style they love most may not be the most obvious one.

Me, for instance. You would never guess by looking at me, but I’ve harbored a love for the 1950s for as long as I can remember. The music, the fashion, the movies, the cars – just about everything from that era delights and inspires me. Nothing would make me happier than to affix a chic little hat to salon-styled hair before leaving the house everyday in acres of petticoats. I’d love to wear smart white gloves, and Chanel No. 5, and tool around town in a Caddy convertible like Elizabeth Taylor in “A Place in the Sun.” However, these are not things one tends to do in the year 2010 (although I do wear Chance by Chanel and occasionally get my hair blown out). It just doesn’t make sense to wear petticoats to the office or brave LA traffic in a gas-guzzling car that weighs more than a tank. As a result, my favorite style remains mainly in my head instead of being a certain look with which I’m usually associated.

One of the great things about wedding style is that it can reflect whatever you love – it doesn’t have to project the most apparent aspects of your personality. Drawing inspiration from whatever makes you swoon – be it an era in time or a favorite genre of music – is an excellent way of incorporating your personality into your special day. It just may not be the most obvious way.

Here are a few of my favorite things from which to draw 50s inspiration (in the favorite colors of my niece, Julia, because she inspires me, too).

INSPIRATION

For a glimpse of the overall aesthetic, I compiled some photos that evoke 1950s style at a glance. The pink T-Bird (circa 1957) would make an outstanding getaway car, and that stand mixer is my number-one registry pick. Having guests type messages on a vintage typewriter in lieu of signing a guest book is a unique idea I picked up from Beth Helmstetter (http://www.bethhelmstetter.com/), one of my favorite wedding consultants.

 

KitchenAid stand mixer

 

Found on Amon Minter’s Thunderbirds

 

Found on Fairy-Freckles.com

 

“Shimmer and Shine Box” by TINte Cosmetics

Photo by Grace Light

JEWELRY

My favorite movie star, Lana Turner, was the epitome of glamour through the 1940s and 50s. At the ‘21’ Club in Midtown Manhattan, Lana’s soon-to-be third husband dropped an engagement ring with a 15ct. (yes, fifteen carat) marquise-shaped diamond into her glass of Champagne, and my favorite celebrity quote was born: “There’s something awfully compelling about a large engagement ring.” (I use it in my personal email signature.)

Although the below example is a mere 3cts., please feel free to tell  my future husband that it will definitely do. The crystal-filled toasting flutes by Swarovski are the perfect, sparkling vessels for some celebratory pink Champagne by Pommery.

Engagement ring by Blue Nile

Pommery Pink POP Rose Champagne

Crystalline toasting flutes by Swarovski

Screen star Lana Turner on the cover of Photoplay magazine

FLOWERS

Peonies are my favorite flowers, followed closely by gardenias and roses. I love how pale the bridal bouquet is, and the pink chandelier (utilized here at a Mindy Weiss event) is so lovely and girly.

Photo by Yitzhak Dalal
Found on InsideWeddings.com

Photo by Yitzhak Dalal
Found on InsideWeddings.com

Photo by Jay Lawrence Goldman
Found on InsideWeddings.com

Photo by Yitzhak Dalal
Found on InsideWeddings.com

FASHION

Dolly Thicke’s line of vintage-inspired dresses absolutely makes me swoon. The retro silhouettes are beautiful, and the details are so sweet. Dolly also does custom designs, as well as smart accessories such as headpieces and shoes. The leopard-print pumps below are incredibly fun, but I also like the elegant footwear chosen by some of my Inside Weddings brides.

Headpiece by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Pumps by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Dress by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Dress by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Dress by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Dress by Dolly Couture
Photo by Alice Hu

Photo by Nancy Cohn
Found on InsideWeddings.com

 

Photo by Tony Florez
Found on InsideWeddings.com

STATIONERY

Letterpressed invitations are all the rage today, but in the 50s, engraving was the height of elegance. Vera Wang combines the classic method of printing with my favorite bloom in the beautiful new design below. Stevie Streck Designs is a recent find for shower invites and bridal stationery that I absolutely love. The look is romantic and retro, and the dimensional elements such as ribbon and tulle add a lovely creative touch.

“Engraved Peony” wedding invitation by Vera Wang
Found on FineStationery.com

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

 

Stationery by Stevie Streck Designs

 

 

BLUE

I know this doesn’t fit with my overall pink color scheme, but I would be remiss if I didn’t include something blue! The fall 2006 issue of Inside Weddings magazine features one of my all-time favorite covers – the bride’s hairstyle and ruby lipstick are so retro-glam, and the detailing on the dress is absolutely to die for. I hope this post inspires some fans of the 1950s! As for me, my 50s playlist will be on repeat all day.

Photo by Marlena Bielinska
Found on InsideWeddings.com