a winter wedding wonderland

today los angeles was hit with a chill that shoved me prematurely into winter...which i didn't really mind, given all the gorgeous wedding design concepts that winter brings with it.

from fur-lined boots to crystal-accented invites to fire & ice martinis, winter is one of my favorite event seasons. i mean, all-white candy displays are just pretty. below are just a few of the many sophisticated possibilities for all you wintry brides.

forget snowflakes and pinecones — this season is a chance to be truly original. think aspen, think light and feathery florals, think crystalline landscapes. after all, winter gives white an extra dash of dazzle that no other season can match. you simply can't overdo sparkle right now.

and anytime you can add fur to your wedding ensemble, i'm all for it!

design & photo credits

first row — winter bouquet • martha stewart; candy display • the knot, photo by mary ellen bartley; winter wedding photo • david barss

second row — winter wedding invitations • paper olive; fur-lined booties • salvatore ferragamo; winter tablescape • tampa wedding rentals

third row — white wedding cake • the cake girls; fire & ice martini • the knot

autumn and thanksgiving weddings

the leaves are turning color and there's a chill in the air...perfect timing for some warm apple cider, a thanksgiving feast, and a wedding celebration.

autumn and the holidays are a great choice for your event not merely because of the rich orange and red color palettes, rustic backdrops and festive mood. thanksgiving weddings are fabulous in a very practical sense — guests are already traveling, and are often eager to spend the holiday in a new, unexpected way.

these are just a few of the lush design options for fall or thanksgiving. we love the bountiful joy of an apple motif, which is the star of this design collage.

from the unique, incredibly realistic apple candles by candle bay, to our own delicious apple-themed custom menu, the tone is bright, warm and inviting. mini-caramel apple favors by jody perlberger for perl continue the motif and match beautifully with earthy bouquets, also by jody.

round out the look with a simple, elegant table setting with rich golds and browns — including an all-brown chocolate & fruit wedding cake like this one by cheryl kleinman. you're sure to have an unforgettable wedding and a very happy thanksgiving!

the knot, philosophy and a wedding day sweepstakes

okay, we love good gossip and good shopping, and this post has the best of both.

we just learned that the knot has joined forces with lifestyle and beauty brand philosophy on an exciting new partnership. the result of their unique collaboration is “tying the knot,” a just-for-brides gift set created to pamper the bride-to-be so she looks as beautiful as she feels on her special day. how brilliant is that?

retailing for $100, “tying the knot” includes nine essential bridal beauty products, including purity one-step facial cleanser; amazing grace firming body emulsion, bath gel, and spray fragrance to help her feel amazingly clean and beautifully feminine; and kiss me exfoliating lip scrub for soft, smooth, kissable lips.

additional philosophy products in the gift set are:

· hope in a jar moisturizer

· microdelivery peel pads

· kiss me clear lip balm -- spf 20

· eye hope deluxe sample

the “tying the knot” gift set is now available for purchase on theknot.com and philosophy.com. our favorite thing about the set is an inspiring message that is included for the bride, along with a philosophy created exclusively for the knot: you must love yourself before you can love another. we simply adore this.

surrounding the product launch, the knot and philosophy are also launching the wedding day hope sweepstakes. the interactive site invites brides to share their hopes and dreams for their big day, and the personal messages will be posted anonymously on the site’s user-generated bulletin board for everyone to see. again, we love the idea.

brides who share their hopes are automatically entered to win the grand prize of a luxury honeymoon worth over $10,000, courtesy of viceroy anguilla resort & residences. other prizes include a wedding day makeover for one lucky bride and her bridesmaids, courtesy of philosophy beauty expert and makeup artist john trau, as well as “tying the knot” gift sets.

talk about a marriage made in heaven. :o)

hooray for hollywood

so, you're getting married, but a church wedding just isn't your style. gardens and beaches aren't grabbing you either. what to do?

well, if you're the kind of bride who simply must find the most original wedding venue possible, then you might want to consider the special events department at paramount studios.

not only has this legendary institution been making movies for almost a hundred years, they are also in the business of making memories for couples everywhere. the experienced event staff offers 5-star service in creating your event, utilizing many of the same resources used by blockbuster productions. it's magic.

i mean, where else can you mingle with hollywood history while sitting beside such an iconic backdrop as the paramount studio gates?

and speaking of iconic, what better way to complement your event than with our hollywood save the date? it's fresh, irreverent, and totally fun. after all, if you're going hollywood, you might as well go all the way.

for more details on paramount studios special events, check out their website. lot wedding photo courtesy of paramount studios.

get engaged and maybe win a spa package from wedding channel

proposal season is upon us, and wedding channel is ushering in the happiness by launching a playful new facebook application: 10 reasons to marry me!

whether the top 10 reasons to marry someone are snarky — “i’m not an aspiring reality star” or “i already come with a ring” — or really sentimental — “i volunteer every thanksgiving” — wedding channel hopes the facebook application will be a fun way to share why someone’s such an amazing catch.

to make it even more fun, spaweek is sponsoring the application, so two random winners will be selected to win a $300 spa package for two. you can check out the new app and the details here.

plus, weddingchannel.com has launched a new proposal guide as well. we love the poll section where you have the opportunity to weigh in on how the etiquette of modern-day dos and don’ts has changed. amusing stuff!

real weddings • allison and kevin • cape may seaside fete

other than my own wedding, one of my favorite events has to be my sister's wedding 3 years ago. fabulous modern color mixed with sophisticated antique accents made her wedding truly original in every way — it is still a model for my own personal wedding style.

probably my favorite thing? the incredibly unique juxtaposition of a hot pink and black color scheme against a beachy blue backdrop, and a reception hall with tiffany blue and silver walls. it was beach-meets-old-hollywood-glamour, and it totally worked.

allison's venue, the congress hall inn in cape may, new jersey, did a fabulous job with the special touches, like accommodating a special menu of mini-philly cheesestakes for the groom, and an out-of-this-world sugar seashell wedding cake for the bride.

with all the attention to detail, allison was fortunate to have bella pictures on hand to capture all of the gorgeous scenery — especially since they turned into a stunning custom photo album as part of their package. i just have to crack it open every time i see it on her coffee table.

oh, yes...and it doesn't hurt that my sister and her husband are both gorgeous! of course, the lazaro couture wedding gown did put everything over the top, and i absolutely loved it.

i gotta tell you, girls, sometimes the dream dress is just worth the splurge, don't you think?

laura hooper calligraphy

as a designer, i gravitate towards artists who have truly transcended their craft and elevated it beyond the ordinary. one such artisan is laura hooper, who has mastered the traditional art of calligraphy and enlivened it with a fresh, contemporary flair.

not only is her work beautiful, it looks just as good on classic cream letterpress as it does on uber-modern black linen. she's the first calligrapher we look to whenever a bride inquires about using this incomparable addressing method.

it's no surprise to learn that laura has been featured by multiple icons like instyle weddings, the knot magazine, ceremony magazine, town & country weddings and bride & bloom — to name just a few. her vast array of styles and expertise is almost hard to believe.

no matter the color palette, paper style or design aesthetic, laura has a calligraphy solution to match. and she's a doll to boot. how can you not love her?

welcome your guests in style

for the couple having a destination wedding or otherwise expecting guests from out of town, there's no better way to welcome travel-weary loved ones than with a unique gift basket.

and there are no better gift baskets around (we think) than those dreamed up by kate parker weddings. chock-a-block with fabulous regional goodies and conveniences, they immediately set the tone and catapult each guest into celebration mode.

the styles are endless. big city wedding? try the philadelphia basket, which among other fun things features fiji water, a med kit, a local map and a local philly favorite — tasty cakes. the chicago basket has the same practical items plus brownies from the chicago brownie company. yum.

or maybe you're headed for new england, to the harbor hideaway of nantucket, or the vast wilderness of vermont. either way, you can't go wrong with nantucket style cape cod potato chips or some delicious nutty steph's vermont granola.

beach wedding, you say? no matter which coast, kate parker has you covered. grab some gum balls from florida by mail out of the miami basket, or — speaking of orange — bite into some handmade gecko cookie company shortbread from the o.c. basket.

possibly the best of all the baskets? those geared towards the little ones. the kids basket comes with juice, crayons and a pack of uno cards. perfect for keeping the ragamuffins occupied while mom and dad tear into their grownup delights.

and of course, let's not leave out your guests' other baby. this lola parker couture doggie bag features rawhide twists, a dog bowl and pee pads. can you stand the cleverness? we can't!