Hot Wedding accessories to make you day SIZZLE!

Everyone knows that vintage is in, from birdcage veils to bringing back to life that “something old”. In addition to the modern take on vintage, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry is heading towards chunkier unique designs of necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Monogramming and personalizing everything at your wedding is a great way to make your day extra special and unique!

Handbags are also more popular, adding that extra detail is key!

Combs are getting a fresh look with additions of feathers, and splashes of color with jewel-toned or iridescent crystals which are inspired by wedding décor or “something blue.”

Beaded wedding bouquets, and boutonnieres are a stunningly unique option for brides uninterested in traditional floral bouquets, or beaded accents can be used to add sparkle and flair to conventional wedding bouquets.

Bridal Shows:Booths:Brides: Best Friends

Weddings,The Bridal Show at the convention center in downtown Nashville yesterday was a blast!  I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful women who were brides to be!  I can't wait to work with all of you! There were many great vendors that were at the show! wanted to give a  big thanks to  Bonnie from Belles Fleurs for helping make my booth beautiful! Also thank you for all of my great friends for helping me at the booth, you all rock! 

The Gown Construction Begins!

Many artists can relate, staying stay up 7 nights a week, 24 hours a day constructing, creating, envisioning your passion! Getting to that point where Coffee and sugar is just not enough to give you that jolt and keep you up, but you insist you keep going...I mean, come on,....your creating a work of art, no time for sleep! Preparing for the bridal show coming up has been just that, nights of sketching and creating! you must see my floor, there are many threads, many scraps, many pages of drawings and illustrations, you can get lost in here! lol Can't wait for the show this sun. the 17th to see my artwork come alive!

The pic below is an illustration of beginning the designing process of a bridesmaid!

Tips to make your special day extra trendy!: Top Wedding Gown Trends!

Top Trends Brides are Loving!

1        Geometric shapes, such as cut-outs and patterns, and asymmetrical touches like necklines and bias-cut skirts are updating classic gowns with a modern edge.

2        Strapless continues to be a favorite as it allows free movement and flatters many figures.

3        For brides who crave more coverage, the cap sleeves and off-the shoulder looks are current alternatives, and as a bonus: they show off a sexy neckline.

4        Details matter!  Flowers, ruffles, draping, beading, ruching and pleating give gowns a touch of intrigue, whimsy and drama.

5        Glam it up with sumptuous fabrics, trails of tiny buttons, or rhinestone buckles and broaches.

6        Go Short and Sweet! Tea-length styles are in demand for destination weddings and more relaxed, casual weddings.

7        You can't go wrong with Tradition!  Lacy details on sleeves, necklines, trains and jackets are always in style!

8        Colors, Colors,Colors!!! Did i mention..COLORS? Make a statement and let your wedding personality shine with your favorite colors! choose colors that coordinate with the seasons, especially chocolate, tiffany blue and reds are showing up everywhere, from sashes to floral accents.

MIX IT UP! Tips for Brides: Let your Wedding personality Shine!

Mix it Up!

During your wedding planning, I bet you find yourself torn between colors, styles and themes. Can't decide between a ball gown or a sheath? Well, wear both! You will add extra surprise and flare by mixing and matching styles, and color palettes! You will make your guests do a double take by switching up looks between the ceremony and reception. Have an elegant hair updo for the isle, and long bouncing curls for the reception. During your ceremony, have one color palette of soft whites, and pale hues, and for the reception have a blast of bright and rich colors! Have your bridesmaids where a neutral colored dress, with a white or ivory sash during the ceremony, and during the reception, change there sashes and accessories to bold and striking colors! With a little bit of creativity, your possibilities are limitless!

For example: This is a dress I designed for the Bride who wishes to have either a sweet dress for a destination wedding or to wear at her wedding reception and dance the night away!

Check out my site! www.designsbysaramarie.com

Just wanted to inform the world about my new vamped site! I am very excited about it, so go check it out!

www.designsbysaramarie.com

Belles Fleurs : Wedding Florist

 A special thanks goes out to Bonnie from Belles Fleurs for designing beautiful floral bouquets for my photo shoot! Please check her out if you are interested in flowers for your wedding, her designs are truly unique and breath taking!

Gaylord Opryland Photo Shoot

Here is a pic of all of my beautiful models! Thank you girls for making my Wedding gowns look beautiful!

Couture Bridal Shoot: (opryland hotel)

It's Been a blast working with Woottonphotography ! You should check him out! This fall we had a fashion shoot at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and had a great time shooting photos there! I will continuously post pics from the shoot, showing you some of my new styles! If you would like any of these wedding gowns created for you, please don't hesitate to ask! Designing is my passion!

Love Ashleysbrideguide.com !!!

Big thank you to Ashley from Ashley's Bride Guide for setting up an interview, and spotlighting my work! You should check out the interview here!

My Engagement Shoot: Wootton Photography

Check out Wootton Photography! I myself have entered into the bridal world as a bride! We had a great engagement photo session with him in downtown Nashville, and I am looking forward to many more opportunities to shoot with Mike!

Intimate Beach wedding: Custom wedding party

Kathryn & Nick were married in October at Myrtle Beach NC. Since it was a beach wedding, to compliment the colors of the ocean and surroundings, Kathryn wanted cornflower blue for her wedding scheme. She had 2 bridesmaids and 1 flower girl. (I was one of the maids!)

Both of the bridesmaids dresses where knee length, and was made of cornflower blue organza fabric with white satin trim. The flower girl dress had a white tank top style bodice, with a pick-up skirt garnished in pearls with a cornflower blue sash.

Outdoor Weddings: custom Short Bridesmaids dresses

Becca & Jake Taylor’s wedding took place outdoors at a stunning home in NC. The weather was perfect for an afternoon wedding, and the wedding party looked great!

 Becca came to me for alterations on her wedding gown, and inquired about having custom dresses for her wedding. She wanted chocolate brown with sage accents! She had 4 bridesmaids, and 1 flower girl. I told her I would be honored!

With these custom dresses, I also designed the Men’s ties to compliment the girls!

Inspiration for Your Fall Wedding: Custom Men's Accessories

Can't forget the handsome men! Coordinating custom made ties and pocket squares complimented the bridesmaid’s colors beautifully!

Inspiration for Your Fall Wedding: Custom Flower Girl Dress

Kids grow fast and dressing them can be more tricky than you might think! Going custom is a great way to ensure the dress will still fit the flower girl (or young bridal party member) on the wedding day.

It is also another way to ensure that the design integrates with the bride's vision for the entire bridal party.

the ring bearer pillow is also a Sara Marie custom design

Rebecca wanted her junior bridesmaid to have the same colors as her bridesmaids, which were custom.  She also wanted the flowergirl to be in white but wanted to incoporate her wedding colors, so we added the copper red sash.

Inspiration for Your Fall Wedding: Custom Mother of the Bride Dress

Rebecca's mom wanted modest, with sleeves and full length.  She also wanted to her dress to complement her daughter's fall color scheme of rich reds and golds.  Rebecca's gown had a tulle pleating hem and mom wanted something similar.  So, I pleated organza around the hem.

Unlike my design session with Rebecca, which started with magazine clippings, my session with the mother of the bride started with a discussion around her body type and what would work best.

The conclusion - a slight A-line with a V-neck rouched bodice was a great complement to her figure...

 ...and to her daughter's overall bridal party design. 

Inspiration for Your Fall Wedding: Custom Bridesmaid Dresses

After we created Rebecca's uniquely custom gown, she decided that she wanted custom designs for her entire bridal party - from the men's ties, bridesmaids to mom and kid's attire.

For her bridesmaids, Rebecca wanted alternating colors.  Luckily, I found a reversible fabric that had copper red on one side and the gold on the other.  Next, Rebecca said she wanted "strapless, short and sweet"!  Easy.

Based on Rebecca's design ideas, I created custom bridesmaid dresses that her bridesmaids loved!

Inspiration for Your Fall Wedding: Custom Wedding Gown

Rebecca and Seth got married in October 2008. Their wedding colors were copper red and gold, perfect fall wedding colors!  I'll share more from her wedding over the next few days but let's start with Rebecca's custom gown.

Rebecca knew that she wanted a custom bridal gown.  We started with magazine clippings of her favorite bridal gown styles.  From there, we married various aspects to create her dream wedding gown.