Guest Blogger: Day 2 Anne Barge

Day Two with Ginny Brogan from Anne Barge. Here is Day One if you missed it.

We saw so many new trends at market this year. Here are the big ones!

One of the biggest trends we saw this season was texture. Texture was everywhere! Skirts made of thousands of tiny flowers, ribbon swirled into patterns, tulle piled high, and chiffon wrapped in itself. Buyers and press were literally reaching out and touching the gowns to feel the opulence.

Texturized gowns are a great alternative for someone who does not want beading or lace. It used to be that gowns fit into one of three categories – beaded, lace or plain. Well, not anymore. You can have a gown with one fabric, but oodles of interest.

Check out these textured gowns:

For the past few seasons the economy made extinct the beaded dress. Well, beading is back baby! Buyers and press could not get enough of the gorgeous beaded bodices that returned this season. What once people thought of as an added expense they now see as sparkly frosting. The girl who loves to sparkle can now breathe easy and return to bridal shopping. Phew…that was a close one!

Check out these beaded pieces:

A huge trend in the bridal world the last couple of years has been destination weddings, and the designers have finally heard the call. More and more brides are getting married in exotic and fun locals, and now they have tons of options to choose from. Stores used to carry a handful of flowey and short gowns for their traveling brides, but as the demand for such dresses grew so did their clout in the market place. This season instead of one or two destination gowns in their line, designers were showing four or five! I guess the law of supply and demand holds true…demand grew and supply multiplied.

Check out these travelling glories:

Lace has always been a bridal staple. Dresses typically had either Chantilly lace or Aloncon lace. This market the most beautiful thing happened…lace was placed onto of lace! Yes, two or more layers of lace on one dress. The result was absolutely beautiful depth. Aloncon placed on top of delicate Chantilly was my favorite use. The chunky corded Aloncon caught your eye and then you gasped as you noticed the beautiful Chantilly underneath. It was like taking a bite of Chocolate cake then noticing the icing had raspberry in it! You know what I am talking about!!!!

Check out this glorious lace:

All dresses are by Anne Barge and Bagley Ischia Bride. For information contact info@AnneBarge.com

Guest Blogger: Anne Barge

We could not be more thrilled with our Guest Blogger this week. Ginny Brogan, from Anne Barge is joining us all week. After just returning from bridal week, Ginny had the inside scoop for everything up and coming this year. Check back everyday for a new post!

On Ginny:

The Anne Barge blog concept was born six months ago as a way to connect brides directly to the designer. It offers tips on how to wear wedding dress, buy wedding dresses and more importantly how to have fun along the way! While the blog does highlight Anne Barge it offers general tips and ideas for all wedding gowns. I have been writing the blog since its conception just months ago, and have been in the high end bridal industry for seven years. It is my hope that our blog helps brides understand the bridal gown process better and relieve some of the stress of bridal gown shopping. On the personal side, I reside in Atlanta with my husband, baby girl Zoey and our dog Luda. I am very fortunate to live in the greatest city, work for one of the best designers, and spend my days with the spunkiest girl in the world. To all our brides out there..."Happy Reading and Happy Shopping!"

On Anne:

For as long as she can remember, Anne Barge has wanted to be a bridal gown designer. Throughout her school years, Anne was always designing gowns for her paper dolls and school friends, always knowing one day it would be for real.

After a history in the bridal industry, in March of 1999, Anne launched the Anne Barge Bridal Collection which combined classic designs in the finest of silks with museum quality beading and embroidery... not before seen in the worldwide bridal market.

Today the line is represented in Neiman March and the finest stores throughout the country, UK, Spain and Japan. With an atelier above Atlanta's Four Seasons Hotel, her own private label and an international presence, she as made her life long dream a reality. The gowns have been features in magazines and newspapers internationally as well as having been selected as the winner for the 2003 Today Show Throws a Wedding.

This past weekend we debuted our two new collections at New York bridal market. We spent five days in the big apple setting up, having a runway show and meeting with buyers. It is always a whirlwind weekend, but this market was officially a success.

What is bridal market? Bridal market is when we debut our newest collection of gowns. Both press and buyers come to see the new collection. Press will decide what to feature in their magazines, websites and blogs, and buyers will order new stock for their store. This keeps both publications and stores stocked with fresh ideas and fresh inventory for brides.

A lot of work goes into bridal market. We create a brand new collection; produce a runway show complete with lighting and music, schedule one-on-one appointments with our stores, and schedule press seating for the show.

Obviously the biggest part of bridal market is the new collection. It is the bulk of the work, and literally takes months to produce. We begin by brainstorming design ideas, and send them off to be made into muslins, the dress made in cheap cotton fabric. Once the muslins come in we fit them on a model to make sure they fit well on the female body. Then, the muslins are sent back to the factory for corrections. While they are there we are researching new beading, lace, fabric and notions. Once everything is put together the dresses come back to us in their completed form. We go over them once more on a model with a fine tooth comb. Nothing leaves our door for the show without being 100% perfect.

At the end of the day, all this work is done for the bride, and we love it. After all, without the brides who would be our muse?

For more information visit Anne Barge online.

Real Wedding: Dan and Karen

There is something insanely southern and romantic about a courthouse wedding. We had the pleasure of working Karen and Dan this Summer. Check out their beautiful images from Joseph Aczel. Now I will let the images do the talking...

Thanks for having us share in your big day Dan and Karen, it was a beautiful event!

To see more images from this wedding check it out on the Atlanta Occasions Blog

Monday Shower

In case you haven't noticed, engagement season is in full swing. From my news feed on Facebook, to attending local fall events, engagements are everywhere. Whether its you, your roommate, or your daughters best friend, it is time to start looking at showers.

Wedding showers are a fun way to show your support of the new couple by preparing them for their new life together. You can show them that support through gifts, advice, or good times.

via: EmmaWho

Lets look at a few Wedding Shower trends:

1. {Insert Room Here} Shower

Whether it be kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, ect. Focusing your efforts on a specific room helps define a shower. Guests know what kind of gift is expected, and your recipient gets a big check mark on part of her new living space. You can also narrow down the theme by adding an element. For example, with a Kitchen Shower have guests bring their favorite recipe and what is required to make it. Think Pyrex, Crock-Pots and spices rather than actual food.

2. A shower that does not require a gift

Lets face it, money is tight for many right now. Having a shower where a gift is not required will make many guests more comfortable. In lieu of a gift, request that guests bring a piece of advice for the new couple and compile them in a frame or book. Also, you could ask that they bring their favorite recipe to compile a cookbook as the "gift". The point of a shower is to... SHOWER, not necessarily with gifts, but also with love and support to send the couple into their life together.

3. Jack and Jill showers, AKA Couple Showers

Traditionally, wedding showers are for the bride only. Couple showers are becomingly increasingly popular. My advice for them? Have something fun that both sexes can participate in. Try fun outdoor games like corn-hole. Expert tip: Having the shower during football season? Make sure the boys have somewhere to watch their games. Or better yet, set them up to watch the games which the girls open gifts!

4. Themed showers

You can theme a shower any which-a-way you like. This can focus on an array of things the bride-to-be may like to have extras of, or just something she loves! Is your girl an old soul? Have a retro themed shower! Is she a serious neat freak? Have an organization shower and make sure she registers at crate and barrel first! Perhaps she loves pictures, have each guest bring their favorite frames picture of the couple.

With any shower, make sure you talk to the guest of honor first. Make sure it is something they are going to enjoy, and benefit from if guests are involved!

Other ideas:

Mad Hatter Tea Party

A Royal Affair Wedding Shower

Summer Yellow Bridal Shower

DIY Bridal Shower Scrapbook

Did you miss part one in our shower series? Check out Engagement Showers!

And if you need invitations don't forget about your 40% off!

Fall Inspirations

With fall in the air, parties are gearing up just in time for the cool weather. Here are some fun ideas for your fall get together:

1. Pumpkin fire

Having a party where kids will be in attendance? Keep things safe with this bonfire made up of carved pumpkins.

Image from Better Homes and Gardens: October, 2009

2. Candy corn favors

Looking for a simple favor? Try these cute candy corn pots filled with candy corn, or your favorite fall treat. This simple idea just uses small terra-cotta pots with yellow, orange, and white paint! Having trouble keeping your lines straight? Use masking tape between the colors, or outline in pencil before.

Original image via Martha Stewart Magazine

3. Dressing up candles

Turning regular candles into festive fall ones is easy. Just grab some leaves in your back yard (not too crisp) and flatten them out. Brush a thin layer of craft glue onto the leaves and press them onto your pillar candle. Arranging the candles with some leaves between them makes for an easy fall centerpiece.

4. Fall treats

Pumpkin anything is always an good go-to when looking for fall food. But adding chocolate chips, nuts, and other spices you can make ordinary treats extraordinary. S'Mores are fun for all ages around the fire! If your looking for some other great treats check out Joy the Baker or for meals try The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

Addition: I love, love, love this pumpkin "cooler"

Would make a precious centerpiece!