I’m sure many of you can identify with the fact that I feel I have purchased my weight in bridal magazines. There’s something about flicking through the glossy pages with some scissors or a highlighter that just makes me giddy – more so than clicking through the internet. Several times, I’ve come away from the newsstand with an armful of magazines only to be disappointed to find them a. unhelpful and b. more than half advertisements for cheesy bridal crap I would never buy/wear/foist on my worst enemy.

Somehow, Brides Northern California ended up in my possession (it just showed up at my workplace – anyone who’s been to a bridal fair is used to people selling your information to others who hit you up for services) and after a quick page-through, I realized it was actually a good, helpful, and relevant magazine. Hurrah!

Brides Northern California

Helpful and interesting articles! Stuff I can find in my area! Relevant advice! How many times have you seen something in a national bridal magazine and thought to yourself “Wow, that’s the perfect ring pillow/flower style/bridesmaid gift!” only to realize that you can only find it in Dallas or Saskatchewan?

The Spring/Summer 2010 issue has interesting articles on the following:

* a guide to finding all things bridal on Etsy.com (like an Ireland-based designer that exclusively makes wraps and shawls to go over wedding dresses)

* ideas for unusual engagement ring/wedding ring pairings (if you have a classic 3-stone engagement ring, try pairing it with a thicker diamond baguette-studded band)

*an article on the art of respectfully negotiating with vendors in this topsy-turvy economic climate (try flattery about how much you love their work, then hit them with your budget)

* color and style ideas to go with some local venues (a Roaring Twenties theme at the Julia Morgan ballroom downtown)

I highly suggest checking it out! You can order it on the Brides website, along with other location-based versions like DC, Atlanta and Boston.

By Elizabeth Zachry

How many of you have been out shopping for a bridesmaid dress?  I had the chance to experience the selection process first-hand, and it is not pretty.  I went to two shops, Bella Bridesmaid in Los Gatos, and Flair Bridesmaids in San Francisco.  The two stores are upscale and are light and airy inside, so I walked in hoping for the best.  However, they both let me down by their lack of selection.  To be honest, I am a little surprised that these types of stores even stay in business.

Photo By Liz Linder

Do not plan on coming out of a bridesmaid dress shop with a dress in your size.  Are you wondering why?  In most shopping situations you go into a store, try on clothes in different sizes and styles and make your purchase.  But, of course, at bridal salons they have to make it as hard as possible for you.  I consider myself to be an average size, but we had a really hard time finding anything in the styles that the bride liked that would actually fit on all of us so we could get an idea for how they fit.  It is so hard judging how a dress is going to fit when you are squeezing yourself into something that is too tight or clipping back something that is too big, and this happened at both stores I went to.

Once the bride picked a style, it was time to order the dress.  The largest size Flair Bridesmaids had on hand in the right style was a 6 (more like a typical size 4).  The bride shipped over a size 12 from Boston to have on hand for us to try on so we would have a better idea of how the dress would fit.  I think that was awesome, but why make it the bride’s responsibility and not just carry a few more sizes in each style at the store?

The woman at Flair Bridesmaids was kind enough (note the sarcasm) to measure me in front of their massive and uncovered window looking directly out to Polk Street and have me lift up my shirt to better measure my waist.  It was nice that she wanted the correct measurement, but was it really necessary for me to stand in front of the uncovered window and lift my shirt?? Am I really the only person this has happened to that was uncomfortable? After carefully taking my measurements she asked me what size I wanted.  Hmm, I thought her job was to help me choose a size?  Apparently based on my three measurements I am three different sizes so she was at a loss for suggestions.  This is where it got tricky…they did not have the two sizes I wanted to try on in the store so I had to guess which size would be best. The saleswoman recommended I buy the larger one to be safe (two sizes larger than I wear in my street clothes) and I could have it altered.

Do these people get paid referral fees for tailors? It seemed to me that I was almost surely going to need alterations based on her “recommendation”.  What do they really get paid for if they do not carry appropriate sizes for you to try on or assist you in picking the correct size?  When you are paying that much money for a dress, shouldn’t they make it available to try on?

What kind of experience did you have when picking your bridesmaid dress? Better? Worse?  I would love to hear your comments/recommendations for the next time I am in a wedding.

Marry Me Live Guest Post

In today’s world, it is not uncommon for your bridesmaids to be spread across the country, or even the world and that makes bridesmaid dress shopping incredibly difficult! Shiny Orb recognized this pain point. The Berkeley founders, Elizabeth Yin and Jennifer Hsieh launched Shiny Orb this month and have answered my questions below to introduce us to what Shiny Orb offers to its users.

BABG readers interested in trying out the site, ShinyOrb has created a special access code for Bay Area Bride Guide readers.

Access Code: BABG

1. What inspired you to start Shiny Orb?

Last year, Elizabeth Yin was planning her wedding. Her four bridesmaids were scattered across the globe — in San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Boston — and the crew spent hours scouring the web for the right bridesmaid dresses. They wasted even more time trying to decipher each other’s opinions in a flurry of email exchanges. Elizabeth and her bridesmaid and best friend Jennifer Hsieh thought, there’s got to be a better a way to choose dresses, and so they dreamed up Shiny Orb, a comparison shopping site for bridesmaid dresses with a social twist.

2. Can you walk me through the online experience?

Shiny Orb aggregates dresses from multiple retailers and designers from across the web, providing brides with a large selection — thousands of dresses ranging from formal ballgowns to flirty cocktail dresses. With the site’s unusual style-based filter, a bride searches for dresses by attribute, such as neckline or length, making it easy to find that perfect dress. Recently, we introduced in private beta a new social shopping feature called Shiny Orb Dressing Rooms for brides and their bridesmaids to centralize coordination of bridesmaid dresses online.

A bride or bridesmaid browses the large collection of bridesmaid dresses on Shiny Orb and adds them to her bridal party’s dressing room. Then, everyone in the bridal party can comment on any of the suggested dresses in the room. When a dressing room has been updated, all members of the group are notified by email. Comments can only be seen by dressing room members, but all added dresses are displayed as an inspiration board for other brides.

3. What are the benefits to bridesmaids and brides?

We simplify dress-selection for bridal parties. We make it easy for bridal parties to search for dresses and collaborate and socialize around them.

4. Who are your favorite designers?

There are a lot of great designers we love. For more classic bridesmaid looks, we really like the clean lines of Alfred Angelo dresses. On the more flirty and fun side, we’re fans of Mori Lee. But, it’s definitely not all about designer bridesmaid dresses. There are fabulous dresses from many independent designers as well as some of our favorite retail outlets. We see a lot of interest in non-traditional, non-designer bridesmaid dresses, too, so we’re working on getting them included on our site.

5. What are the hot fashion trends in bridesmaid dresses currently?

Probably the most talked about trend right now when it comes to bridesmaid dresses is the “wear-again” bridesmaid dress. It may be due to the economy, but brides are trying to help their bridesmaids get the most of their money by choosing dresses that don’t look so “bridesmaids-y.” We’re talking about asymmetrical hemlines, ruffles, one-shoulder necklines — tea-length or cocktail length dresses that can be worn to any party with little modification. To this end, lots of brides are skipping tradition and taking the plunge with the LBBD, the little black bridesmaid dress.

ShinyOrb Contact Information:
* Email: media[at]shinyorb[dot]com
* Twitter: @shinyorb
* Facebook: www.facebook.com/shinyorb
* Telephone: (650) 691-5ORB
* Mailing address: 1275 University Avenue, Suite 2, Berkeley, CA 94702

Related articles by Zemanta

• Let the Bridesmaids Festivities Begin (bayareabrideguide.com)
• How to Measure for Bridesmaids Dresses (alwaysablogsmaid.com)

For brides looking to book a venue for a wedding in the months of July or August, have I got the place for you! I just attended a party at a terrific hidden gem—The Green Room at the S.F. War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, located on the second floor of the Veterans Building. It was originally designed as a lounge for World War I veterans, but it looks more like the perfect place for high-tea or a ball. With a 28-foot high ivory and gold-leafed ceiling, five 24-lamp chandeliers, and ceiling-high mirrors, it’s a stunning and elegant venue. The best part is the enormous balcony outside of The Green Room, accessed by five sets of glass doors. The balcony stretches across the front of the building, practically doubling the space of The Green Room, and provides a stunning view of City Hall.

A few basic Green Room facts and amenities for the curious:

If you are interested in the Green Room for a wedding ceremony or reception, they welcome these types of events only if they take place during the months of July and August each year. The Green Room is otherwise booked for performing arts, non-profit, public interest, corporate & community events.

GREEN ROOM CAPACITY:

- 200 for seated weddings plus dance area; 250 seated without dance area or other

- 200-300 theatre-style seating, capacity may be reduced if there is a stage or table/altar up front

- 500 standing room only

* The average rental costs for weddings at The Green Room are roughly $3,500 to $4,500.

* Any licensed caterer is welcome (see Rules and Regulations for details).

* There is a built-in wet bar.

Click here for more information and specifics on renting The Green Room, including a floorplan, details on rental fees, equipment rental, pictures of weddings and more.

S. F. War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 110 San Francisco, CA 94102

PHONE: 415.554.6313  FAX: 415.621.5091

By Megan Peters

Yes everyone, I am so excited to announce I found my wedding dress! It finally happened where I had that special moment everyone talks about. I got really overwhelmed by how beautiful it was and started to cry because I was that happy.

It all started last weekend when my fiancé and I went out to lunch in down town Redwood City in California. The view from our table looked out across the street and guess what was there? Yes, you guessed it a bridal boutique. How could I pass it up? The gorgeous white gown in the window drew me in like a fat girl to a piece of chocolate cake (I can say that because I am that girl). I asked my fiancé if he wouldn’t mind stopping in on our way out and he said, “sure”. Don’t worry he didn’t see the actual dress I chose.

The bridal boutique is called Mariel’s, which is family run and has been open for over 30 years. A mother and daughter team both named Mariel operate the store. The boutique carries designers such as La Sposa, Mori Lee, Moonlight Couture, Allure Bridal, Casablanca, Sottero Midgley, Winnie Couture and of course my dress which is a Maggie Sottero.

DRESS WITH MATCHING BOLERO

The day we went in after lunch they kindly let me look through all the dresses on the rack even though we had no appointment and they were quite busy. I asked the owner for an appointment for that coming Monday evening and I took the last opening.

When arriving back at the store I knew that this would be an interesting experience, since this store was filled with designer dresses with sample sizes ranging from 4 to an 8. There would be no actual trying on. Regardless, Mariel the daughter and her team of women treated me like the princess bride unexpectedly. Never did I feel uncomfortable for being plus size. They were honest with their opinions and when we found the right dress Mariel and my jaw dropped as we saw the garment beautifully against me. It was a fitted A-line gown a with corset closure. The style featured a notched neckline with a radiant beaded empire accent. The ruched bodice extended into this glamorous asymmetrical draping throughout the skirt. And the train pulls to the side hip in extraordinary fashion. It also had a bolero featuring a beaded motif on the lapel to complement the design of the dress. It was the most gorgeous thing that I have ever seen, to my taste of course. After a moment or two I realized this was it. There was no thinking or question about it. I started to tear up and I told them how happy and overwhelmed I was because I did not expect to find THE one that day. Which is why I didn’t bring anyone with me like my mother or bridesmaids. They took my measurements and information and I signed the papers acknowledging that there were no returns after ordering.

THE DRESS SHOWN IN DIAMOND WHITE ( MINE WILL BE IVORY)

CORSET BACK

Today, Wednesday I went back in to finalize payments and pick out my veil and rhinestone headband. They are both amazing and go perfectly with the dress. I can not wait till my dress comes into the store so I can try it on with my shoes and everything. I am so happy I have checked one more thing of my wedding to do list and I can hardly wait to report back to you how the entire outfit looks. More coming soon!

I recently discovered Engaged and Inspired when they featured our engagement photos on their site!

Taken where we got engaged, in Alamo Square Park

At our corner coffee shop, the Matching Half in NOPA.

Besides feeling super cool and flattered that they used our photos as an example of a cool, casual engagement photo shoot, I also loved reading their other wedding ideas. Some examples:

*creating a “wish” tree at your engagement party or wedding and providing fun-colored sharpies for people to write notes for you and your partner

*ideas for how to get the groom more involved (put him in charge of stuff he likes to do)

* lots of photos and ideas taken from real weddings

We here at Bay Area Bride Guide are in good company!

By Elizabeth Zachry

I was planning to make the bridal shower invitations for my friend’s wedding, but as the date neared I realized that I was going to have trouble making them and sending them out in time.  As an alternative, my sister found a great site called Zazzle.  On the site there are hundreds of different card options to choose from.  It can be overwhelming, but I was able to narrow down my choices by searching for starfish, the symbol for the wedding.

The step-by-step process of choosing and then ordering the card was super simple.  After selecting the design of the card you have the option of selecting from a variety of paper types.  This site is great because if you do not know the difference between linen, speckled, felt, etc., each one comes with a short description to help you make your decision.  There is even a recycled paper option for all of you eco-conscious brides.  After that, all you have to do is enter in the specific information (bride, address, time, and RSVP info).  One of my favorite things was that after each change the picture is updated to reflect your choices, allowing for a comprehensive preview before placing the final order.

If you are feeling extra ambitious, each design also has a more in-depth customization option.  On this page you are allowed to change the colors, font type or size, alignment, and pictures.  You can even add your own photo to the invitation.  In total we spent about 15 minutes choosing the design, editing the overall look by removing some of the starfish on the front, and adding in all of our own information.  The invitations arrived yesterday and they look just as I imagined, with no surprises.  I couldn’t be happier and am definitely considering Zazzle again next time I need cards or invitations!

Marry Me Live Guest Post

Wish Upon A Wedding, founded by local San Jose based wedding planner, Liz Guthrie is the first wedding specific non-profit dedicated to wedding wish granting. Because of Marry Me Live’s participation in Wish Upon A Wedding, I had a chance to sit down with Liz and discuss her organization. I was very inspired by her words and wanted to share with you some very heart warming things that are taking root not only in the Bay Area, but across the nation.

Wish Upon a Wedding was conceived from the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway, which awards a wedding to a couple in need, with respected wedding vendors donating their services to award the wedding couple with a “Dream Wedding”. From that concept, Liz wanted to take this idea national, enabling national wedding vendors a way to give back through a formal 501-c non profit, while also benefiting wedding couples all over the country.

Wish Upon A Wedding’s growth has all been organic. Liz relies on word-of-mouth to convey the message, and that message has spread like wildfire. There are already 20 chapters everywhere from Northern California, to Houston, to Indiana, and New York City.

One of the main messages that Liz wants to spread is not only about giving back to wedding couples with terminal illness, but also to send a message of tolerance. Wish Upon a Wedding supports same sex marriages and asks all wedding vendors who participate in Wish Upon a Wedding to support the cause as well.

The Wish Upon A Wedding Mission is large and the expansion plan to boot. Liz plans to expand nationally in the immediate future with international chapters in a couple of years. With a noble cause that allows so many to give back, finding wish granters should be no problem. I look forward to seeing how Wish Upon A Wedding evolves and grows.

By Erin Frank

DIY Desserts made by family members

My Do-It-Yourself wedding advice continues!  If you read my DIY Flowers post, you’ll know my husband and I were on a small budget for our wedding and took the Do-It-Yourself option to the max. We did the flowers, the decorations, the music (courtesy of my iPod nano), brought in the alcohol, and even the handled the food for a 75-person reception ourselves—DIY food being the topic of today’s post.

For the bride on a budget, providing the food for your wedding reception may be the answer. You can save literally thousands of dollars and still end up with satisfied, well-fed guests. But before you decide, take a close look at your resources. Do you have a talented network of friends and family who like creating meals? Do you have bulk food stores like Costco and restaurant supply stores nearby? Do you have transportation large enough to accommodate heavy loads? While saving money on food sounds like a dream, you can’t do it alone—without the right help and gear this endeavor will become a nightmare that threatens to spoil your big day.  And let me say this up front—if you can afford to have the meal you want catered and still stay within your budget, then absolutely have it done professionally. Caterers “get married” dozens of times each year—this is your first.  If you do decide to forge ahead with DIY food, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Boudin Bakery makes animal-shaped sourdough creations that taste even better than they look. They're a big hit with out-of-town guests.

1) Get to know your wedding site inside and out — Ask all of the important questions well in advance: Do they allow food from outside sources? Do they require certification for servers and/or bartenders? What are their policies on Sterno cans and other open flames? How many electrical outlets are there and where are they located? Is there running water and/or a kitchen area available for use? Does my liability insurance cover anything that might go wrong? Knowing the answers to these will help you pick food for your wedding that is easy to prepare in your environment.

2) Plan, plan, then plan some more — There are a number of great resources out there to be found. Cooking for Crowds for Dummies keeps it simple, and there are tons of websites. Just search for “Make your own wedding reception food” or “Cooking for a crowd.” What you cannot do without are estimates on how much food each person needs, so here’s a basic “Rule of Thumb” guide for quantities:

Hors D’oeuvres

• 6 individual pieces or bites if preceding a meal
• 4 – 6 bites per hour if hors d’oeuvres are the only meal

Main Course

• Meat, Fish or Poultry – 6 ounces when you have one main dish, 8 ounces of combined meats if you are offering two or more types
• Rice, grains – 1.5 ounces
• Potatoes – 5 ounces
• Vegetables – 4 ounces
• Beans – 2 ounces
• Pasta – 2 ounces for a side dish, 4 ounces for a main dish
• Green Salad – 1 ounce undressed

3) Keep it simple and don’t be afraid to “cheap it up” — Choose hors d’oeuvres that can be eaten with fingers and a napkin to avoid needing silverware for cocktail hours. Select pre-cooked meats, pre-sliced when possible, to avoid long cook times before the wedding. Ideally you can buy nice cuts of pre-cooked and seasoned meats, store them in their serving dish, then simply heat them to a safe temperature above sterno cans in time for the reception. This keeps things clean, and easy to transport and heat, but be sure to do a trial run in your home a month or two before your wedding to ensure success. Think about what your audience likes to eat, and don’t fancy it up too much.  My guilty little secret? The most popular dish at my wedding was the mashed potatoes. They were awesomely buttery and delicious. And folks, they came from the Safeway deli department. Was it a gourmet recipe? No. Did my wedding guests rave? They sure did, and it was insanely affordable. Remember, at the end of the day only you and the groom will know what the label on the package said.

4)  DIY means Delegate It Yourself — Now listen closely here: on your wedding day you are not to touch the food until it hits your plate. No bride should be slaving over a hot stove before she says I do. Remember that list of resources you made at the start? Assign tasks well in advance to your friends and loved ones. You can provide the recipes, money, and even serving bowls but let them make the food. All you need is a core group to make one dish each in the quantities you need and bring it on site the day of.  Provide them a place to set it up and heat or chill it if needed and you’re off and running down the aisle!

There’s a lot more to catering your own wedding than one blog post can capture. Leave a comment below if you want advice on a particular problem and I’d be happy to help!