STYLE: Artesia Bridal Fashion with Saris, Drapes and Glamour

Designer ROHINI BEDI is a true artist who reveres the human form and lets her ideas flow from her imagination to her design pad...then onto the runway and into wedding ceremonies all over the world. Check this segment from SHOWBIZ INDIA about a recent bridal show featuring South Asian fashion.

One component about Rohini's artistry: she wants her designs to be functional, as well as beautiful.

The other designer featured in this segment is Shekhar Rahate (flash warning!), who is showing his western bridal design collection alongside Rohini's.

ELEMENTS: Serving Rainbow Pancakes

Rainbows are everywhere, especially if you put them there...

More people are opting for a small wedding these days...or at least considering the possibility of having one.  But what could be more beautiful than serving these colourful rainbow pancakes at your wedding weekend breakfast or brunch?  

via A Non-Denominational Ceremony's TUMBLR.

Disclaimer:  i am aware of the potential harm various food colourings and dyes may cause...and you should be, too.  Check your ingredients and do your research!  There are lots of 'natural' colouring options out there.

BTW did you know there was a fuss was made in 2010 involving a segment of Christians, their use (misuse?  disuse?) of rainbow baked goods and connection (or lack thereof) to LGBT pride?   Also, here is a source for non-toxic, natural food colouring, plus a recipe for the stack pictured above.

Oh, and check the lovely rainbow wedding dress, pictured at right!

FASHION: Natalie Portman et al Wear Rodarte Dresses

Rodarte Fall 2011 collection, originally uploaded by scpr.kpcc.

This photo is from Rodarte's Fall 2011 collection.

KPCC has a fantastic interview with the two Pasadena-based ladies who are Rodarte: Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

See their website and their prêt-à-porter or ready-to-wear clothing at Opening Ceremony online.

NEWS? : And What the Heck is BHLDN?

As you may remember reading here last year, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie announced plans to launch their bridal line sometime in 2011.  Now, according to company PR, the new wedding fashion line will launch on 14th February 2011, Valentine's Day, and go under the brand BHLDN [Warning: loud unstoppable automatic website music!  Their FB page is much quieter.]. Established and up-and-coming guest designers, with Fleur Wood, Tracy Reese, and Catherine Deane contributing exclusive designs, will be featured as well as BHLDN's own brand designs.  Retail prices will range from $1,000 to $4,000 for gowns, and $200 to $600 for event dresses.

BHLDN is not yet confirmed to stand for, but is believed to represent the word beholden.  (Think a la the vowelless domain names recently: 'flickr.com', 'gdgt.com' etc...)

Also interesting was the following passage found at the bottom of the press release:

"This news release is being made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain matters contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Any one, or all, of the following factors could cause actual financial results to differ materially from those financial results mentioned in the forward-looking statements: the difficulty in predicting and responding to shifts in fashion trends, changes in the level of competitive pricing and promotional activity and other industry factors, overall economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, including any effects of terrorist acts or war, availability of suitable retail space for expansion, timing of store openings, seasonal fluctuations in gross sales, the departure of one or more key senior managers, import risks, including potential disruptions and changes in duties, tariffs and quotas and other risks identified in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that actual results may differ materially from any projected results expressed or implied therein."

NEWS: More Private Sale Websites Focus on Wedding Fashion

Other members-only sites are now emphasising the wedding market, following The AISLE NEW YORK's successful launch.  Although the AisleNY is entirely wedding-based, IDEELI just announced they will have a wedding-centric sale coming up on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 featuring items from Big Day Dresses, Brilliant Diamonds, Beau-Coup Party Favours and others.

Get an invite to ideeli's all things wedding sale!

Want an Invite to The Aisle NY's Wedding-Focused Flash Sale Website?

Get ready, to-be-weds and the just engaged!  The latest private member-only online sale website is THE AISLE NEW YORK (TANY).  Gilt, ideeli, Groupon and similar sites, which post various bargains, deals and items for a limited-time only are all the rage these days...but TANY is the only one centered on the wedding market.

Invitation from The Aisle New York, the web's only
wedding-based flash sale site...  :)

A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY has a handful of The Aisle New York 's invitations to join, in case you're curious to learn what it's all about.  Please leave contact information in the comments of this blog, or email celebrantvenus [AT] gmail [DOT] com directly!  First come, first served, and you're under no obligation to our officiant services (although, we'd love to ask you about your ceremony plans!).  For more information, please read on.

Lovely art from The Aisle NY's homepage.

According to a press release issued on eWEDNEWS.com, the website's founders consist of David Yassky (former Fashion Editor and Stylist at Women’s Wear Daily and W Magazine, where he covering the bridal industry in-depth); corporate attorney Shara Levy; Deborah Moses (of Moses Media and previously Elegant Bride Magazine's Editor- in-Chief and Creative Director) and Mark Ingram (owner and founder of New York City’s Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier).  Pre-registration for TANY began in August 2010.

The press release went on to say:

"Most featured merchandise including wedding dresses and gowns, veils and headpieces, designer and fine jewelry, lingerie, shoes, and evening bags are promotionally priced, passing along significant consumer savings.  The site also offers select new collections and designer initiatives at regular prices. Merchandise ranges from one-of-a kind runway pieces, coveted designer archives, new custom-made orders, and exclusive designer capsule initiatives.  The platform’s editorial section [vks - read: online magazine!], Inside The Aisle, features dynamic content for everything wedding, from aspirational fashion imagery, to ecommerce shopping guidance, and tips and pointers from industry experts. And to spread the love even further, The Aisle New York donates a portion of proceeds from every gown sold to the charity of the designers’ choice."

 Of course, please visit our website if you need an officiant (also known as a minister, reverend or clergy) for your Southern California ceremony!

NEWS: Urban Outfitters to start a WEDDING Brand/Line??!

Matrimony = weddings = money, according to URBAN OUTFITTERS apparently, who this week announced their intent to create a brand aimed at weddings.

Who's next, Old Navy? 

The clothing chain (U.O., not O.N.) plans to feature heirloom gowns, lingerie, decor and accessories for the to-be-wed set, and they expect to launch the new brand in time for Valentine's Day 2011.

The dress above is from FREE PEOPLE.COM.  Click here to see Urban Outfitters' blog post of a WEDDING DRESS CAKE.

The company, which includes TERRAIN, freepeople.com and the higher-end ANTHROPOLOGIE stores, exceeded expectations in the retail sales world last year, and they seem to be doing it again this year.  For more information, please see these articles from the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, NEW YORK Magazine and STYLELIST.COM.