CK Bradley Major Sale- Bridesmaids Dresses?

My favorite designer of all time, CK Bradley, (and a seaside designer, based in Newport!) just sent an email with a ridiculous sale. I love the idea of bridesmaids dresses that are not bridesmaids dresses, just a dress that one can purchase online/in a store that is in the theme of the rest of the wedding...How amazing (and amazingly priced) would these be for your maids.....

My favorite, the Bombardino in Navy, down to $125 from $375....the only tricky part would be getting the measurements right, since its final sale. But if you can figure out the details, completely worth it.

I also love the Pique Tamanaco in Clover - Down to $149

A general stationary tip

I think now that brides are so accustomed to doing EVERYTHING online, its easy to overlook brick and mortar retailers. After spending hours and hours trying to find the perfect nautical/seaside save the dates, my mother suggested looking at a stationary shop in the small seaside town where my wedding will take place. One quick stop in proved to have everything I ever needed, sometimes a small store where the wedding will be can trump all the online resources. They are an expert in your area, and have dealt with lots of brides having similiar style weddings, and have years of resources targeted to your vision. Worth a stop in, not to mention the whole idea of supporting local businesses.

Nautical Chart Invitations

I came across these invitations, from Nautical Stationary which are perfect! I thought I thought up this idea myself, but this group beat me to it. And after tons of online searching, they seem to be the ONLY invitation designer using nautical maps.

Particularly if you are sailor types.....I've been emailing with the people there, and they sent me samples, which I'd highly advise given that all the different coastal areas will look completely different once laid out on the invitation.

Let me know if you've heard of other designers that use nautical maps.

Thanks!

NB

Tip for searching the big sites

*Picture via brides.com of Lighthouse Inn, West Dennis MA

When I started wedding planning, I wasn't aware of the blog world, and started looking for ideas and inspiration on the "big" wedding sites (knot, msw, brides). As I began to get overwhelmed when the search function would lead to 500 results, many of them not relevant, I realized that it would be easier to find what I was looking for if I was more targeted in my search.

I then had a moment of inspiration, and realized I should search by specific non-wedding related words only used in seaside/nautical weddings: some I've found helpful - seersucker, sailboat, hydrangea, dock, lighthouse, nautical flag...you get the idea. It takes you to mainly people's albums, which are what I've found to be most helpful in getting ideas.

And this is how I found my most recent favorite wedding....its perfect. The color scheme (seersucker and green), with the location (Marco Island, FL) and that dress. Which sadly, she designed herself and can't be purchased.

A Perfectly Preppy, Navy Shower

I saw this DC based shower by Amber Karson Events and fell in love with it for a few reasons. Mainly the navy preppiness of it all. In planning myself, and seeing friends plan a nautical or seaside wedding, often the shower and related events aren't in the summer, and aren't in the destination locale. The way this shower brings in the navy and preppy elements is wonderfully fresh and creative. This also shows the trend moving to smaller/more intimate showers.

And while most of my peers think the majority of shower games should never be played again, clever activites, involving the history of the guests to the bride, are always welcome. This memory paper chain is a perfect solution.....

Nautical inspiration Boards

Part of the inspiration for this blog, among other things, was that once in a while I'd be pleasantly surprised to find a nautical or seaside themed inspiration board, but always wished they were all in one place.

I'll update this as I find them, here's one to kick off the effort.

From Tying the Knot..

(samm blake, brides, paul johnson, wedding style guide, the knot, unknown, the knot, the knot, laura novak)

Stinkerpants Giveaway!

In my search for appropriate save the dates (the V. and I met in sailing school) I found and fell in love with Sarah's work Specifically this one (go to the end, its Sarah and Ben Sailing)..

Unfortunately, she's out of Nauticalbride's budget, but she's giving a chance to win some of her work! Here is the link, courtesy of Elizabeth Ann Designs....

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/08/25/stinkerpants-giveaway/

Best of luck!