Friday, April 29, 2011

More Royal Wedding!

Below are some more of my thoughts as I watched the Royal Wedding this morning.....Enjoy!

As I sit watch the guests arriving I can’t help but remember watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer back in 1981.  That was a wedding that was filled with the utmost pomp and circumstance where no expense was spared…so much has changed since then, the economy, war, trends, styles and much more.

Therefore it’s no wonder this wedding is a bit different.  The pomp and circumstance have been toned down.  By all accounts this wedding seems just as flashy and expensive; but indeed it is not and it is much more subdued, yet regal and royal.

For instance the fact the Royal Family chose a morning wedding makes it much less formal and therefore less costly.  One doesn’t need to deck the church from nave to steeple in floral especially when you have a venue such as Westminster Abbey where very little décor is needed.  However, the trees with the lush lily of the valley are not inexpensive, but add a regal royal touch.  Placing expensive blooms in key areas is always a great tip especially for a bride on a budget.

Catherine’s dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen is clean, simple and elegant with its lace overlay, sleek lines and simple veil.  Being much simpler than Princess Diana’s dress makes this wedding ceremony far less formal yet not any less special.

And let’s not forget the guests’ attire; military dress, morning coat or lounge suite for the men and for the ladies dresses with sleeves a must and a stylish hat or fascinator will style the dress without making it too stuffy.

The largest expense isn’t necessarily the less formal and less costly reception where canapés and champagne will be served, but rather thirty two million dollars in security is the largest part of today’s royal nuptials.  For my clients security is rarely needed and therefore almost never a part of the budget. 

So although it seems this wedding is over the top with pomp and circumstance it certainly is far less expensive than some think, but not any less regal or royal in nature.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images


And here I talk about Catherine's beautiful dress....

The biggest question leading up to the Royal Wedding has been who will Catherine Middleton be wearing…what will THE dress look like?

I had the honor of attending many show’s during Bridal Fashion Week and when I walked into the Priscilla of Boston showcase one dress stood out, it was adorned in lace and I immediately said to myself THAT is the dress she will wear.  She did not actually wear Priscilla of Boston but rather a dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Catherine Middleton’s dress was nothing short of Princess like; it was indeed a fairy tale design. Perfectly tailored, adorned in lace with no doubt hand sewn detail in essence it was sophisticated, elegant, chic and certainly a trend setter.

Some have said they are disappointed her dress was rather plain compared to Princess Diana’s.  We should not forget this is NOT 1981 where silk, satin and flouncy sleeves were in style.  We should also not forget Catherine is not trying to be Diana.  Catherine is her own woman who is graceful and elegant.  And one thing is for sure she will be a positive trendsetter among so many horrible fashion trends currently out there.

I see her bringing class and classic back in an era of tacky and tasteless.

And as far as Pippa’s dress; that too is beyond words.  It was one of the most classic and beautiful bridesmaids dresses I have seen in a very long time.  And what with the color?  I thought the choice was splendid and in no way did it take away from Catherine.

I do believe we will see a positive turn in wedding fashion and that’s something I am excited for!

Odd Andersen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

All of this can be found on The New York Times blog....check it out here!

Cheers!
Shawn

The Royal Wedding - NY Times Blog

Good Morning! I have been up since before the crack of dawn to watch the Royal Wedding! I am so thrilled that I was asked by the NY Times to blog for them about my thoughts of this very special moment in history! Take a look at what I have to say on their blog titled "How the Hats Made the Day" by clicking here.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Congratulations to His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge! What a special day!

Cheers!
Shawn

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wedding of Meredith & Jason

I have another beautiful wedding to share with you today! This is the wedding of an incredible couple, Meredith & Jason, who got married at The W Union Square, one of my favorite venues! Meredith & Jason are such a sweet couple and I am so happy that I was able to design their decor for their special day.


The bride carried a stunning bouquet that was designed with all white anemones, roses, calla lilies, and orchids.



The couple was married underneath a sleek chuppa that was designed to have a strong presence, yet with a romantic feel. Accenting the chuppa was a beautiful layer of flowers that consisted of roses, white and ivory stock, and hydrangea. Robert Stark Lighting did a fabulous job highlighting the entire chuppa to make it appear as if it were glowing.


For the table arrangements, half were high and half were low, but designed in the same manner. The tall arrangements were designed in a large glass cylinder with white hydrangea, roses, white and ivory stock, as well as curly willow bursting from the top.


Ron Ben Israel created this stunning cake that mimicked the lace on the brides dress.


Big thanks to Cody Raisig Photography who did a wonderful job on the photography for Meredith & Jason's wedding. For more amazing photos of this wedding, be sure to check out his website here! We look forward to working with him again in September!


Cheers!
Shawn 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Wedding Salon!

Calling all NYC and Tri-State area brides! Come join me this Wednesday, April 27th at the Manhattan Center Studios for The Wedding Salon Luxury Bridal Showcase from 4:00pm - 9:00pm! For more information and a complete list of the other participants, take a look at The Wedding Salon's website here! Make sure to buy your tickets in advance! You definitely don't want to miss out!


I look forward to seeing you!

Cheers!
Shawn

Monday, April 25, 2011

Next Magazine's Gay Wedding Guide

I am thrilled to share with you Next Magazine's "New York Gay Wedding Guide!" I am featured in the Experts section where I share my thoughts on gay weddings as well as tell you about some of my current favorites in the wedding industry.


Take a look at the article here!

Cheers!
Shawn

The Royal Wedding

Today kicks off Royal Wedding week! The wedding business is buzzing with ideas and speculations for what Kate's dress is going to look like, who will and will not be attending, how to throw your own royal party, and so much more! Last week, I contributed to a New York Times article in the Dining and Wine section titled "Henry VIII Did Not Write this Royal Wedding Menu!" so check it out here for my take on the upcoming Royal Wedding menu!

Also, stay tuned for the big day! For those of you who may not have heard, Kate and Will are tying the not on Friday, April 29th! I will be getting up bright and early....so join me for some tea and crumpets as I will be tweeting, facebooking, and blogging my thoughts for the New York Times on the trends, styles, and what is undoubtedly going to cause a major hat craze here in the USA! 

Cheers!
Shawn

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Minimergency Kits!

Many of you were interested in finding out what we have in our emergency kit here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design....but I also want to share with you these amazing little "minimergency" kits from Ms.& Mrs. !


"For a bride's tiny troubles" these kits are perfect to give to everyone in your bridal party! This little kit is stocked with 20 essentials by Ms. & Mrs. The 20 "must-haves" include lip balm, dental floss, breath freshener, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, hair spray, clear elastics, earing backs, stain remover, double sided tape, mending kit, deodorant towelette, adhesive bandage, tampon, pain reliever, blotting tissues, facial tissue, bobby pins, antacid, and even extra wedding bands! Can you believe they fit all of that in this tiny, not to mention extremely cute, leather zip up bag! You can choose from silver, gold, blue, or pink.....there is one for everyone! And what's even cooler than how tiny the kit is....is their tiny price of only $16! Can't beat that!

Ms. & Mrs. also makes "minimergency" kits for the groom and his guys which comes in this ultra-sleek aluminum box! This "groom"-ing kit contains 15 essentials including lip balm, dental floss, breath freshener, stain remover, mending kit, safety pin, extra buttons, shoe shine towelette, nail clipper, deodorant towelette, adhesive bandage, pain reliever, antacid, boutonniere pin, and extra wedding bands.Only $12!


Check out the Ms. & Mrs. website here to see the rest of their amazing products including Mother of Bride and Mother of Groom survival kits. This company is so creative I just can't get enough of them! And after the wedding, if you need a few refills you can order those too! These kits are good to carry even after the big day has come to an end.

Cheers!
Shawn

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sam's 40th Birthday Celebration!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend and are gearing up for Passover and Easter! Here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, we had a wonderful wedding on Friday at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers! We will be sure to post the photos once we receive them! Can't wait to share them with you!

Today, I am so excited to show you a 40th birthday celebration for one of our ultra-fabulous clients Sam! From the very beginning of the planning process to the very end, we had so much fun with Sam and we know that she will be a friend for life! She is such a hard working, caring, and sincere woman who deserved the party of a lifetime! She is an inspiration to us all here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design and we hope that you enjoy these photos of her birthday bash!



The party took place at an absolutely incredible location  here in NYC, SoHi at the brand new Trump Soho! Located on the 46th Floor of Trump Soho, we knew this location was "the one" as soon as we stepped foot inside and saw the unbeatable views. 




Jennifer, the Special Events Manager, was such a doll and made the entire process a breeze! We could not have pulled off this event without the extra care we received from her and from Leonardo, the Catering Manager. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication! Also, if you have yet to go to Trump Soho's restaurant Quattro for dinner...RUN don't walk! The food is to die for!

For the decor, we designed the room to have a sleek and elegant feel. The fun lounge furniture and rentals were brought in from Luxe Event Rentals. For this "cocktail style" event, we made sure that there was enough seating for at least half of the guests, but still had a consistent flow throughout the entire room. Nsombi, our head floral and design director, did an incredible job on the arrangements that helped accent the sophisticated feel of the event.





The invitations and all paper items for Sam's birthday bash were created and designed by the talented Ana Dolan of Invitations by Ana. Sam came up with the slogan "I am Sam! 40 I am!" and we took the idea and ran with it! 


We customized the invitations, thank you cards, specialty cocktail, guest book, and ice cream sandwich flags based on her slogan and initials SJP. 


Guests signed this custom book created by Ana Dolan that had each guests photo inside so that they could sign by their photo! A wonderful keepsake for Sam!



Instead of doing the typical birthday cake, we decided to do ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery! Julian of Melt Bakery is such a sweetheart and another outstanding vendor that I recommend highly! The ice cream sandwiches were such a hit with all of the guests and we even did an over-sized ice cream sandwich with candles as the "cake" so Sam could make her birthday wish!



 The flavors Sam chose for her passed ice cream sandwiches included "The Minimalist" vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookies, "Seduction" espresso ice cream with double chocolate chip cookies, "The Elvis" banana ice cream with peanut butter cookies (one of my personal favorites), and "Kareem" pistachio ice cream with pistachio baklava. For more of Melt Bakery's amazing flavors, check them out here.





Guests danced the night away to tunes provided by the incredibly talented and lovely DJ Mark Z from Total Entertainment


Jesse Anders from Fifth Avenue Digital did an amazing job capturing the evening which is for sure something that we will never forget!


Sam's hair was done by Danielle Pfeifer and makeup by Ashley Fox.



Thanks again to all of the fabulous vendors who helped make this event such a success! And Happy Birthday Sam! We hope all of your birthday wishes come true!


Cheers!
Shawn

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Bridal Market 2011

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a few Bridal Fashion shows for Bridal Market week and what I saw was nothing short of stunning.  The fall season is brimming with stunning designs by some of the greatest wedding dress designers such as Alfred Angelo, Priscilla of Boston, Amsale, Christos, Kenneth Pool and St. Pucchi.

Although I'd love to show you each and every single dress I saw on the runway I am going to highlight a few of my favorites and those that stood out with new and upcoming trends.

Cinderella Platinum Dress


Rapunzel Dress



"Amira"
Strapless Tulle Gown with Pleated Organza Swirls and Delicate Beading


"Nevine"
Strapless Gown with Soft Tulle Skirt and Organza Embroidery


"Milana"
Beaded Trumpet Gown with Tulle and Organza Petal Skirt


"Yulia"
V-Neck Silk Taffeta Ball Gown with Pickup Skirt and Beaded Belt


"Daria"
Strapless Tulle Ballgown with Pickup Skirt and Shredded Tulle Capelet



"G670J"
Cowl Neck Halter Jersey Gown

"Harper"
Silk Mikado Strapless Trumpet Gown with Asymmetrical Neckline and Bow

"Elle"
Strapless Pleated Organza Trumpet Gown with Cascading Ruffle Back

And here I am with Amsale the designer! Love her!


"Jordan"
Soft A-Line Double Georgette Gown with Cowl Neckline

"Athena"
Satin Faced Organza Fit-To-Flare with convertible one shoulder strap. Cascade Skirt Detailed with Horeshair, Bias Banded Satin, Tulle, and Rosettes.


And here I am with the lead designer of Priscilla of Boston! Such a wonderful woman!


This dress is AMAZING! You can wear it three different ways!
1) with the jacket
 2) without the jacket
 3) without the ballgown skirt!

I think you can agree the designers hit it on the head with some of these amazing creations!

Until next time - cheers!
Shawn