Category Archives: Inside Scoop

Pick Pockets for the Bridesmaids Dresses

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

Sorry, Alanis. We’re changing your lyrics to say, “I got one hand in my pocket and the other one is holding a bouquet!”

Pockets are all the rage, and why shouldn’t they be? They are super cute, provide fashion detail, and have a practical purpose! Picking out bridesmaids dresses with pockets is becoming a new trend and we’re on board this pocket train!

Designers have finally come up with gorgeous dresses that can have pockets and still be formal or wedding-appropriate. Pockets are not just for jeans or hobos anymore and certainly can have a place in your wedding day.

Your bridesmaids will thank you, too! With the wedding olympics and the crazy events that happen throughout the day, it’s hard to manage and keep track of a purse and no bridesmaid should be walking down the aisle with her bag. Pockets are perfect for tucking in a lipgloss and with the itty-bitty sizes of cameras and phones these days, a girl can get by with keeping her essentials right in her dress!

Now presenting photographic fashion show of perfect bridesmaids dresses with pleasing pockets!

Dresses by Siri, Inc and Watters

Dresses by Ann Taylor and J. Crew

So tuck this idea into your pocket and start shopping for your bridesmaids dresses! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. You can find fabulous dresses with pockets at bridal salons and ready-to-wear stores alike. Whether you have streamlined or pouffy dresses in mind, your ladies will give you a hand for your style sense and consideration… and then tuck that hand into her pocket for some sassy and stylish photos!

Traditional Shower/Non-traditional Registry

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop

Let’s talk about presents. We register for them. We get them. And then what? Some people may not be quite ready to store their presents or commit to household big-ticket items. Dana Ostomel, creator of Deposit a Gift, weighs in on how to enjoy a traditional bridal experience, including a shower, and still make a non-traditional registry work for you and your love!

Even in these modern times of different starter needs and alternative registries, the fun of the traditional wedding shower needn’t be lost. But let’s face it, when you think “shower” you think “gifts,” so what’s a shower-thrower to do when the guest of honor has a cash gift registry? We’ve got some tips and tricks to create a gratifying gift-giving experience for guests, and also give the guest of honor what they really want. We get this question a lot, so it is perfectly suited for the Deposit a Gift’s guest blog on The Wedding Yentas.

“How do you throw a shower for someone with an alternative registry like Deposit a Gift? Guests want to bring a gift to be opened. Is this possible with a cash gift registry?”

The Basics:

We created Deposit a Gift with showers in mind. During checkout, gift-givers have the option to delay their gift for the date after the shower, so as not to spoil the surprise, and also once the purchase is complete, they can print a gift certificate to bring to the party. Here is an example gift certificate:

dag-gift-certificate

The gift certificate can easily be slipped in a card and brought to the party. However we realize that people often want to have something more elaborate to open, so below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. But before we get to that, how do you get the guests on board?

It’s All In The Positioning:

As with any new idea, people’s willingness to jump on board and give a gift from an alternative registry is all in how it’s presented to them. If someone is throwing you a shower we recommend you or your shower hostess:

Help guests understand why the guest of honor has chosen this type of registry and how it will be helpful to them.
Tell them that they can print a gift certificate to bring to the party.
Plan a theme based on some of the below ideas that help guests have fun giving this type of gift.
Sometimes even a cute invitation poem can get folks in the mood. Here’s one we recently saw:

Like many young couples these days,
Jack & Jill have most things anyways.
A honeymoon in Fiji is how they’ll start out their life,
In their beautiful journey, as husband and wife!
If you want to give a present we’d like to suggest,
that you make a contribution to their treasure chest.
For without the help of this little pun,
their honeymoon would just not be as much fun!

You can find their honeymoon registry at XXX.mydagsite.com. We hope you enjoy picking out something with a romantic sheen, then bring the gift certificate wrapped in something fun like lingerie or sunscreen!

Fun and Inexpensive Ways to “Wrap” a DAG Gift Certificate To Be Opened At The Party:

Put out art supplies for guests to decorate their cards and envelopes. Then offer a pretty memory board or cork board to hang the gifts — it’s also a nice keepsake for later
Wrap the gift certificate in something useful, lightweight and inexpensive, like a cloth napkin, dishtowel or apron

apron-certificate-board

More Ideas for Wedding Showers:

Include the gift certificate in an envelope with a favorite recipe.
Wrap the gift certificate in sexy underwear or pretty cloth napkins. A store like TJ Maxx carries nice stuff at low prices.
Encase it in a picture frame that can be used for a wedding photo. Target is a reliable place for great finds.
Attach the gift certificate to a kitchen gadget or slip into a reusable shopping bag like awesome Envirosax.
For a honeymoon to paradise, buy a beach bag with towels, and have the guests fill the beach bag with the gift certificates attached to small tokens that would be perfect for fun in the sun like: sunscreen, chapstick, a frisbee, or water bottles.

Deposit a Gift is a cash gift registry service. We provide the tools to build a unique registry and free custom event site, all in one place. Create a gift list for monetary contributions towards dreams and experiences you want most: from honeymoons to home down payments, cribs to college funds!

With a traditional registry service, you sign up at specific stores for gifts you’d like to receive today. With DAG, you build a registry based on what you’d like to buy down the road and receive your gift money to spend where and when you want. SIGN-UP FREE TODAY.

How To Create Smoky Eyes

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop

After you read today’s article you’ll have to get the fire extinguisher because your eyes will be smoky!

Let’s face it, you are a hot commodity. I mean, you’re a blushing bride and you’ve never felt prettier, right? It’s time to step it up a notch. Hence the fire extinguisher. Even if you are hiring a makeup artist for your wedding day, certainly you will be enjoying other bridal-related events during your engagement. Between engagement soirees, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties, you have your fair share of lookin’-good moments. When it’s time to dress up your pretty lil punim, consider smoky eyes with this easy-to-use tutorial by Aura Schwartz, a bi-coastal makeup artist whose background includes artistry for photo shoots, fashion shows, red carpet events, and weddings. She’s a talented gal who can also be found in the elite Vendor Directory of The Wedding Yentas.

Aura was featured as an expert in StyleCaster, providing a step-by-step tutorial for achieving the sexy smoky eye look.

As listed on StyleCaster, here is a breakdown of the steps you should follow to get the look yourself:

1. COVERGIRL’s SmokyShadow Blast comes in six expertly coordinated color and has two specially contoured ends to make it easy for you to use.

2. Start with the rounded tipped one . Apply the shadow from lash line till the crease, making sure you get it all over the lid.

3. Then take the other side, and apply it all over the lid going up into the crease. Put a second coat of this color onto the outer corners of the lid for a little more emphasis there.

4. Take a brush and blend the crease and outer corner of the lids to make sure there are no hard lines anywhere around the eye lids.

5. Use Liquiline Blast eyeliner in Black Fire and apply it near your lash line on your top lid and underneath your bottom lashes.

6. Liquiline blast eyeliner in silver spark and go into your waterline for a more intense look.

7. Then take the same end as you used for the crease color and use it like a pencil going right under your bottom lash line. This will give your eyes a smudged smoky finish.

8. Finish this look with Lash Blast Mascara.

If you are interested in learning more about Aura for your professional, event, or wedding beauty needs, you can visit her blog or get in touch with her via phone: 347.453.3327 or email: aura.beauty@gmail.com

Jewish Mothers Get Dolled Up

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop

Mothers, get ready to plotz. Today is about you! Your daughter is going to be a gorgeous bride on her wedding day, but does that mean that the mother of the bride should hide and be banished from all things beautiful? Feh! Of course not! You are the epitome of “Proud Mother” on the day your daughter meets her groom under the chuppah, and you should be kvelling the way a Jewish mother kvells. Now, mothers of the groom: This does not exclude you either! We are assuming that brides’ mothers are reading The Wedding Yentas in depth, but we are well aware that many mothers of grooms are just as involved and proud, so know that when we refer to MOB dresses, you are absolutely included in this category.

After all, a hot mom is a hot mom, no matter if you raised the bride or the groom. And for that, we bow.

MOB dresses can be found just about anywhere. In fact, what was once deemed a “mother of the bride dress” is no longer the must or the norm. Yes, you can walk into just about any bridal salon and see a number of taffeta matchy-matchy separates or gowns to wear on your child’s wedding day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shop somewhere that doesn’t have a section with a big old sign above saying “Mother of the Bride.” Macy’s, Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and many specialty dress stores carry formal wear that is appropriate to wear to your son or daughter’s wedding. Do not feel cornered into purchasing at the same location as your daughter. Just like bridesmaid dresses, MOB gowns can be ready-to-wear at a department store.

Allow us to play a positive and happy Joan Rivers as we take a look back on some weddings with beautiful options for mothers.

Both moms at Runya and Jason’s Beverly Hills wedding were stunning! The mothers wore copper with varying looks and styles. Off the shoulder cap sleeves on Runya’s mother is so timeless, and the strapless, deep sweetheart neck on Jason’s mom is super feminine.
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

At Lauren and Graeme’s wedding, Graeme’s mom wore a lovely, flowy gown in soft blue that coordinates with her son’s color palette. We think the sheer wrap that covers the shoulders for the ceremony is a winner!
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

We totally appreciate how Lisa’s mother didn’t try to compete with the beautiful surroundings of Lisa and Tyler’s Rhode Island wedding. She absolutely sparkles as she walks her daughter down the aisle in a modern, strapless gown of neutral colors!
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

Nicole’s mom walked her daughter down the aisle like the aisle was a runway at Fashion Week! At Nicole and Michael’s wedding, we love how this mom knows how to wear black! You can’t go wrong with a sleek, form-fitting gown and V-necks are always flattering!
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

We absolutely love the mothers of Arielle and Dave’s wedding, who wore shades of blue in slate and teal. The feminine touches included ruffles and rouching.
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

Taryn’s mother shown in Taryn and Todd’s wedding chose a formal blazer gown and we give her a thumbs up for bold details like an extra wide lapel and rosette flourish. She looks radiant!
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

At Yenta Alison and Bryan’s wedding, Alison’s mom wore a three-piece bronze gown with beaded details, ruffles, and rouching. Alison’s mom wanted something neutral, but formal, and we think she picked a winner.
jewish-mothers-get-dolled-up

Presidential Weddings

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Alison in Inside Scoop

In honor of President’s Day today, we may not be at work or school, but still can plan weddings! We want to pay tribute to some beautiful weddings throughout our nation’s history. It’s interesting to go back in time and see the many different trends of weddings through the decades of the 20th and 21st centuries. From the dresses to the cakes, my how things have changed! But one thing’s for sure, the presidential families know how to make weddings beautiful.

While we haven’t yet had a presidential Jewish wedding (unless you count President Clinton’s daughter’s wedding), we can definitely get ideas from some of our country’s leaders or their family members and retroactively wish these couples a hearty “mazel tov” anyway!

President and First Lady Obama
presidential-weddings