Sex and the City: The Movie

“We now pronounce you husband and wife” are words that are somewhat of a surprise to fans of the HBO series Sex and the City that ended after the sixth season with the engagement of Carrie and her on and off love interest known as “Big”. When the announcement was made that a film followed the highly popular and some what controversial show it made since to assume that a wedding would be in included for the newly engaged couple. If you are familiar with the show Carrie as well as her three best friends all struggle to figure out the twists and turns of love as a single and unmarried women but at no point in time unable to keep up with the highest fashions and styles in which New York City throws their way. We thought it would be appropriate to predict what the wedding will turn out to be like by taking from what is usually an outrageous array of wardrobe for the four characters and adding white to the mix to make it the perfect wedding for Sex and the City.

The Bride: Carrie
With her upscale style Carrie has worn some of the top and latest runway fashions. Her closet, being one of her most pride possessions as well as one of the biggest rooms in her small downtown apartment is filled with a collection of countless stiletto shoes from designers such as Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Fendi, as well as accessories such as her many Chanel Couture caps and head ornaments. We expect her to accessorize for her big day in nothing less than in these top designers but of course adding her own little twist.

The Bridesmaids: Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda
The three of her best friends and bridesmaids are all one of a kind. From Charlotte who is the American housewife, to Miranda who is a successful mother and businesswoman, to Samantha who is rather promiscuous and untamed makes it a rather difficult job and some what impossible process to find a single look or color to assign the bridesmaids to wear for Carrie’s wedding. We are interested to see how they are going to dress each woman to her own personality and at the same time still keep the traditional bridesmaids look.

The film is predicted to be one of the biggest hits of the summer. The wedding of Carrie and “Big” is with a doubt going to be over the top. We are excited to see their interpretation of their wedding in the city, and are curious to see what changes and inspirations the movie will bring to future brides on their own wedding day. Who knows, maybe Carrie’s feathery head ornaments and Manolo Blahnik stiletto heals will become this years must haves because like Carrie always says “When in doubt, Accessorize”.

ak event design...we're back!

Over the past few months many new and exciting things have been happening in our office and with our clients. We are happy to announce that our Director of Weddings and Special Events, Sarah R. Herman has now become a partner of AK Event Design. We are very excited to have Sarah added to our profile picture (see above), which will be featured in the Fall 2008 edition of "D Weddings" and will be on stands beginning in July. In addition, Farron Carmichael, a student from Texas A&M University, will be interning with us for the summer. We plan to bring some of the summers new trends and fashions in weddings to our blog! So be looking for our new series coming soon.
AK is also being featured on two new fabulous websites and are very excited to be a part of them. Strictly Weddings is a fun site that contains the top 3 vendors in each category in our city. The website, www.strictlyweddings.com, is a great place to look around and learn new things! Style Me Pretty (www.stylemepretty.com), a blog based out of New York, also contacted us to be a featured vendor in their Little Black Book section. Style Me Pretty began as a blog but has grown into being a place for brides to go to search out vendors in specific cities, while gathering new ideas for their weddings. Both websites are eye candy for any wedding obsessed blog addict. So until then... Happy Planning!

Head to Toe. You've Got Nail.!

First question: You’re getting married?
Next question immediately following: Can I see your ring?

Most people tend to look down at your left hand as soon as you say you are engaged. A well manicured hand is needed to show off your beautiful rock and all that sparkles! The best option is to go with a neutral soft pink nail color. We have picked two dynamite options. First, is to go with a simple and clear yet shiny “stardust” by Revlon. Or if you want to take a splurge, go for the luxury of the beautiful “pink satin” by Chanel Le Vernis. Being engaged is a great excuse for getting regular manicures so be sure to take advantage of it!!! We recommend going to Exhale Spa and getting a Fusion Manicure or taking your significant other to The Crescent Spa and enjoying a relaxing afternoon with a “Duet Package”, which includes two aromatherapy massages, two pedicures, two manicures, two lunches and gratuities….now that sounds like a great day! Enjoy!!

Head to Toe. Glowing from the inside out!

Every bride dreams of a flawless complexion with glowing skin, highlighted cheek bones and angelic eyes on her wedding day. Not only do you want this to happen, you want it to last the whole day long. Here at the AK headquarters we have interviewed one of our favorite make up artists, Mayra Rams-Sanabria and have come up with a list of her favorite, long lasting wedding day products.

Primer: Trish McEvoy “Even Skin Primer”...Use before foundation and
makeup longevity will be assured!

Powder: Chanel “Double Perfection” and also Chanel “Loose”…the first
for coverage, the latter for setting foundation.

Mascara: Lancôme “L'Extreme Mascara”… use waterproof formula for weddings or for any event where tears might be a problem.

Eyeliner: Bobbie Brown “Long Wear Gel Eyeliner”… I like to use
Chanel #4 brush to apply this liner.

Lip Gloss: Chanel “Glossimers”… superior shine and beautiful colors.

Faux Eyelashes: Revlon #507 or Shu Uemura #501… they look real!

Lash Curler: Shu Uemura …the spring system and the curvature are
the best.

Brushes: Trish McEvoy's … good tools make a big difference in
getting outstanding results.

Moisturizers: La Mer Cream for dry skin and La Mer Oil Controlling
Moisturizer for oily skin.

Mayra also gave us great advice on skin:

“Keep in mind not to start a new skin care regime before a big event to avoid adverse skin reactions. Wear sun protection everyday. I love Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sun block. For the face, Clinique's CX Protective Face SPF 40 is awesome. Do invest in an artfully arched brow complimented by a simple but finished face, gently catty eyeliner and a well drawn mouth. Always classic and pretty. Don't pack on eye concealer. Besides making the eye area look old, it will draw attention to the area you are trying to disguise.”

If you book Mayra for your wedding day, she will go with you to the makeup counter and show you how to apply the makeup for everyday use. Check out her fabulous faces at http://myfabulousfaces.com/ or you can reach her at 972.618.0221.

Thinking about your complexion you should use a good moisturizer a couple weeks out to make sure your skin is replenished and glowing.

If you are looking for a good bridal gift we found a primping and pampering kit by Philosophy called “Here comes the Bride”. It comes complete with facial cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, foot cream, daily moisturizer and “time on your hands” lotion.

As always….have fun!!!

From Head to Toe: The Unveiling

We are starting a new series of advice and tips for the complete bride From Head to Toe: Let’s start with the top!

The Unveiling.

Picking out a wedding veil can be a challenging decision. Do you want it to be long, short, with lace or jewels? A veil does not necessarily have to match the dress, but should correspond so the two fabrics will not fight for the spotlight. It is your big day, not the big veil day. Many brides take their veil off during the reception because it tends to get in the way. We had a bride a few years ago who had a cathedral length veil for the ceremony (see picture above) but wanted a short veil for the reception. We took scissors to her custom veil for the reception, which made a fun statement. She felt comfortable to dance the night away while enjoying her shorter veil.

If you are the bride who wants to wear your veil to the ceremony and then make a different statement for the reception, there are a few fun options. You can wear two thin, gold Grecian headbands to complete your goddess look and add a pop of sparkle to your night. Another option would be to add a small, petite flower from your bouquet since you don’t get to carry it all night. There is also the traditional jewel encrusted antique hair comb that can be worn alone and with the veil.

Remember it is very important to bring the veil or any hair accessories to your hair appointment because it can change your hair do completely. Your wedding day is the one time you can wear a veil, so have fun!!!

Let Them All Eat Cake!!!

The cake is a centerpiece of the reception that resembles beauty and tradition. It also says a lot about your personal style. Guests always search the party to take a glimpse at the wonderful masterpiece you have chosen for your special day. The cake is also sought after and patiently waited upon for the sweet taste everyone desires. These days, a cake can come in many shapes and sizes with many varieties to distinguish a difference from every wedding. Some of the top trends in wedding cakes today include layers of moist cake with swirling patterns of fondant. Non-traditional couples are also taking on the look of artistic cakes to represent something that is important to them. We had a fun bride and groom a few weeks ago that loved tennis so the groom’s cake was made to look like a tennis court, with shoes and tennis balls. The cake shown above was for a client who love to play golf, hence the golfballs on the top, but still wanted it to be traditional and show their classic elegance.

One way to make your cake different is to design something with an unusual flavor rather than normal white wedding cake...although we always love Mexican vanilla cake! For example, a couple could choose red velvet cake with layers of thick cream cheese icing. A custom in the South is to have a groom’s cake but to do something a little different “down South” you could always combine the bride and groom’s cake into one large cake. You can change the color from a normal traditional wedding cake to include colors of the wedding or make it black and white.

Some brides would like to explore different options for their cake. One idea is to have different levels of pies to resemble the towering of a cake. Other ideas are cakes made of cupcakes or mini-cheesecakes. You can also do a smaller cake and include a dessert bar with your favorite items.

The most important thing to remember when choosing your wedding cake: TAKE YOUR GROOM WITH YOU TO ENJOY THE ‘TASTING’ BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ENJOY MOST ABOUT PLANNING THE WEDDING. HAPPY TASTING!!!

When should the Invitations go out?

Planning Detail. Invitations

“How far in advance should I send my invitations out?” is a common question we get from our clients whether they are throwing an intimate dinner party or a lavish wedding. So, we have come up with some guidelines, with the help of a few other experts, to help you decide when to send out invitations. Of course every situation is different, but the list below should give you an idea of how long before you can send out those darling invites.

Formal Dinner Party Four Weeks
Cocktail Party Two to Four Weeks
Luncheon or Tea Two Weeks
Save the Date Three to Seven Months
Wedding Six to Eight Weeks
Bridal or Baby Shower Two to Three Weeks

picture from http://www.barillaus.com/images/SinglePlace1_3224115_big.jpg.