Pretty danglers over at Anthropologie. They'd all look lovely with a wedding gown, even a formal one. I'd love the gold and pearl hoopies with something light and flowing...

... or mermaid meltdown?
How do we feel about Carolina Herrera's new modified mermaid silhouettes? I don't quite know what to make of them. I could list what I think are their pros and cons, but I'm more interested in what you all think. Anyone try one of these on in person? CH's 2008 Bridal collection is so full of this shape (and she is such a bridal trend setter) I'd be surprised if other designers didn't follow suit. I'm wondering if this silhouette isn't the next big thing?

I know it's Monday morning, and cocktails are more of a Friday afternoon kind of post, but I just couldn't help it. They're pretty! Whether you're looking for a signature cocktail to serve at your wedding, a pitcher of fun for the bachelorette, or planning ahead for Friday, Hostess with the Mostess has a great collection of cocktail recipes (among other things). Love the scorpion bowl idea-- so retro.

Bags. With cars on them. Perfect for travel, no? From Orla Kiely. Wouldn't dragging luggage around be so much more glamorous if your luggage looked like this?

PSA Essentials make these gorgeous embossers, some with very modern looking initials, some with more of an "Anthropologie" type flair like the ones above. These are perfect for personalizing note cards, envelopes, or any other paper products for your wedding. They also make a really nice gifts for newlyweds.

The clothes from Pinky's Daily Planner kind of remind me of the olden days when women still "dressed for dinnah". Their satin skirts, tailored blouses, or pretty little dresses could come in handy for any of those special events on your calendar. You know, ones with "dinnah". Maybe a rehearsal "dinnah"?

Every week Xochitl (pronounced so-cheel), our resident wediquette expert and owner of Always a Bridesmaid Wedding Consulting, answers an etiquette question submitted* by one of our readers. So, (without further ado):

Q: My daughter will be married in December in a 100 guest wedding of close family and friends. Giuliana and Marcelo told me that they would rather not do a traditional registry, but want to save for a downpayment for their first home. They are a sensible sort... thirty, still in grad school. They have many household items and since they will be moving during her residency don't want to carry much more around.
I am not objecting, but they asked me for the weddiquette. Help! Is this done, how to word it, should they give people a choice?--Ann

A: The registry thing is so sticky, since generally people don't know exactly what to do about spreading the word. I think it becomes mildly stickier when the couple wants or needs cash for a particular purpose. From a technical etiquette perspective, registry information should never be published and should always be spread via word of mouth, the Mother of the Bride being one of the more vocal mouths. If the couple is setting up a wedding website I think you can include some casual information there about how they are saving for a first home.

I would caution you about the following two things: the bridal shower and determined guests. It's not customary to bring cash to a bridal shower, so I think that should your daughter really not want any new clutter in her life, she could request a lingerie shower when that time comes. At least then she will get new items that she can always use, and these showers are kind of fun. If she doesn't like this idea, I would suggest another kind of theme shower: such as "Around the Clock" or "Room of the House" or a "Linen Shower " (who doesn't want new 500 thread count sheets?) to limit the random-ness of gifts she might receive. My other point is that there are often guests who simply insist on buying gifts no matter what and they'll just go willy nilly buying whatever suits them. Not always desirable.

As a final note, I just got back from visiting friends who live in Amsterdam. They were telling me about Dutch weddings and about how in Holland when you send a wedding invitation, you often include an empty envelope that says something like "Thank you for your gift towards our new Apartment" on it and sometimes even includes deposit account information. Then, it is often customary in the Thank You card for the Bride and Groom to send photos of what they purchased with the money from their wedding. I do love the practical Dutch!--Xochitl of Always a Bridesmaid

*If you've got a question for our expert, submit it by clicking "submit your question" in the right hand column, under "wediquette".

People have been raving about this book. It was a little expensive, but I ordered mine today, and I will let you know how it is, (because I feel it is my duty). I have high hopes. Everyone says it's all gorgeous glossy inspiring photos of fancy pancy weddings. You know. Wedding porn.

I still get a lot of questions about those paper flower pomanders we made last summer for my sister-in-law's wedding. A lot. Because I get so many questions about how we actually made the individual flowers, I'm always on the look out for websites or tutorials that walk you through the making of different sorts of paper flowers. The truth is that when it comes to paper flower making, the sky's the limit. You're only limited by your materials and your imagination. That being said, you do kind of need something to start you off. Someone to show you just how easy it is. Then you can riff on your own, discover your inner flower artist. A few great starter kits can be found over at Martha Stewart Crafts (via Oh Joy!). One is for smaller, delicate tissue flowers, while the other is for larger hanging versions. Both methods will prove useful, and the larger flowers can easily be implemented at a smaller scale for use in bouquets or pomanders.

Looking for something to add to the ol' registry? These platters and bowls are from Martha Stewart's new line of blue & white serve-ware, sold at Macy's. They'd be a fantastic compliment to any blue and white collection (including my own). The largest pieces are around $30 while the smaller ones are closer to $20. Time for a dinner party!

Somehow, even though I just got back from a vacation, I can't stop daydreaming about a teak bungalow on the water with a hole in the floor thru which I can feed tropical fish. I read about this place where you can do just that, plus get your breakfast delivered by canoe every morning, and snorkel off your doorstep whenever you please. I'm thinking this may be the an ideal honeymoon scenario, you know... if you like sunshine... and relaxation. That kind of thing.

Z Gallerie has some wonderful lanterns and sconces for centerpieces or candlelight ceremonies. When I saw what a bargain they were, I figured they'd be 6" tall or so, tea light sized. I was shocked when I saw the measurements. Anywhere from 16" to 27", and many of the lantern's are under $50 each. There are loads of styles and configurations... modern, country, minimal, you name it. If you chose to use some of these on your tables, you might be able to save a little on flowers.

I'm off to Connecticut for an extended weekend of grilling, swimming, and birthday revelry! Looks like twenty-eight is shaping up quite nicely so far... I'm assured by my mom that there will be both lobsters and frosting present, not together, but separately. I've been looking forward to this for ages, and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect. I'll be back to blogging on Tuesday. Have a great weekend everyone!

The vintage over at Hemlock Vintage Clothing is making me very happy. LOVE the white Sak's Fifth Avenue dress on the left, and the gold heels from yesterday would be perfect with the one on the right. They really are perfect for each other. It just goes to show that when it comes to love, age really is irrelevant.

You've got your casual glam, and your glam glam. Personally, I love the shimmery flowers on the sandals, they're just formal enough for a slender flowing goddess-type gown. The champagne and crystal pumps would be stunning for a fuller, more formal gown.
Both from Delman.

Do NOT miss Decor 8's gorgeous brainstorm of wedding cakes and beautiful interiors. This is just one of many. So inspiring.

Betsey really knows how to make a girl feel pretty. Doesn't she?

So you're at your friend's wedding. You're in your folding chair. You've got your program (it's rolled into a telescope). Your eye makeup looks pretty. Your under-eye circles have been masterfully camouflaged. You're enjoying the show... then the vows. You get choked up before they even start. The tearing reaches situation critical very quickly. You're dabbing repeatedly at your eyes with a wadded up kleenex so that you don't get mascara streaks down your face. But dabbing never works. No, never. Always with the streaking.
You know what does work? Evaporation. The fanning works. Fanning, not streaking. I swear.
You know what else fans are great for? Cooling hot wedding guests at outdoor ceremonies. Pretty sandalwood fans work well. They're great as functional favors, just distribute before the ceremony rather than after.

Honeymoon alert! Virginia Johnson makes these gorgeous cover-ups and caftans, perfect for days on the beach with the new hubs. Just add pants and a camisole for an evening out. Virginia also makes adorable aprons (perfect for shower gifts), scarves and totes.

If you're looking to save money on flowers you might want to check out Grower's Box. Loads of different floral varieties are available in bulk, all waiting to be shipped to your doorstep, all you have to do is arrange them. Granted, not all of us have the time or inclination to create our own flower arrangements. Even if you are hiring a florist, consider supplementing with a box of 10,000 rose petals.