Trend Alert: Popcorn Bars

Who says the best popcorn is found in movie theatres? We think wedding reception popcorn reigns! One of the most fun new trends we adore is the popcorn bar as wedding favor or late-night snack! Quickly replacing the ubiquitous candy station at wedding receptions, the popcorn bar is based on the same concept, just made up of various sweet and savory flavors of the scrumptious snack. With amazing flavors ranging from the standard cheddar and pucker-producing dill pickle to traditional caramel and mouthwatering chocolate peanut butter, you can offer your guests a phenomenal variety satisfying a full gamut of taste buds!

The nostalgic treat looks fabulous displayed in huge apothecary jars, galvanized flower buckets or many other creative containers! Give your guests paper or cellophane bags or take-out food containers with your cute custom labels to put the popcorn in and they’re good to go! Or, if serving it as an after-party snack, offer super-cute mini paper popcorn buckets or cups for party-goers to munch from. Your imagination is the limit! Bon appétit!

Haute Weddings and Stardust Fashion Show a Great Time!

Thanks to all of you lovely brides who came out to the Adolphus on Sunday for the Haute Weddings Bridal Affair. We had an absolute blast getting to visit with you and showing you some of our most fabulous bridesmaid dresses and bridal gowns! Around 150 guests joined us at the Fashion Show prior to the bridal event, and they were treated to stunning gowns from several of our designers such as Lazaro, Jim Hjelm, St. Pucchi, Eve of Milady and more!

We’ll post more photos for you soon but in the meantime, check out this beautiful sneak peek, courtesy of the talented Don Mamone. Thanks again to D Weddings and the Adolphus for inviting StarDust Celebrations to be a part of Haute Weddings!

Victoria Nicole Trunk Show This Weekend

Join us for a trunk show at Stardust Bridal Salon this weekend showcasing the fabulous new line from Victoria Nicole! These beautiful bridal gowns are romantic and oh-so-feminine! Call to schedule your appointment: 972.781.1619.

StarDust to Host Bridal Fashion Show at Haute Weddings

Hello, lovely brides! Join us this Sunday, September 25, 12:30-4:00 p.m., at the fabulous Adolphus for Haute Weddings, A Bridal Affair! StarDust Celebrations is thrilled to be producing the bridal gown fashion show (starts at 12:30!), when we will give you a glimpse of 20 or so stunning wedding gowns! Haute Weddings, presented by The Adolphus and D Weddings, is a wonderful bridal event where you can chat with some of the area's best wedding vendors! Come by our booth and get more info on all StarDust has to offer the discerning bride, from premier wedding planning and gorgeous wedding party attire to beautiful stationery and fantastic gifts...and virtually everything in between! RSVP today at weddings@adolphus.com. Hope to see you there!

Simone Carvalli Trunk Show this Weekend

Join us at Stardust Bridal Salon for our trunk show presenting the exquisite bridal gown collection from Simone Carvalli. Appointments are filling up, so call now to reserve your time: 972.781.1619.

Bridal Gown Trends for Spring 2012

We are excitedly gearing up for our trip to New York for Bridal Fashion Week in mid-October; in the meantime, we are giddy to share with you a sneak peek at the latest trends we encountered during our time at the local Dallas Bridal Market last week! Here’s what is going to be H-U-G-E this season:

Texture
Texture continues to reign as a top trend. Designers are embellishing gowns with fabulous appliqués on both bodices and skirts. Cut organza, beaded bodices and lots of various laces are adorning gowns in interesting and gorgeous ways! Check out this stunning example of texture with the bejeweled bodice and cut organza skirt! Wow!

Floral Details
We are seeing plentiful floral details on gowns again this season. Floral appliqués, flower-inspired lace and floral detailing are gracing gowns on both bodices and skirts. And to complement that, we will continue to see botanical details on veils, head pieces and hair accessories, as well as on jewelry!

Romantic Organic
Organic still continues to trend and designers are using eco-chic fabrics in beautiful and romantic ways. Flowing or flouncy, ruffles or lace…these gowns are elegant, feminine and full of romance! Look at this fabulous crocheted lace gown; what a gorgeous option for a vintage-inspired wedding!

Belts and Sashes
Ebony belts and sashes are still going strong! This eye-catching detail is a great way for brides to accentuate their waistlines and add a dramatic show of color to their wedding day ensemble. Heavily embellished ivory belts are also showing up a lot. What a fabulous way to bring in the bling without having it all over the gown!

Straps and Cap Sleeves
Even here in Dallas, where the strapless bridal gown has been the neckline of choice for several years, brides are starting to desire straps and cap sleeves and designers are not disappointing us with their response. Look at this gorgeous gown with sweet cap sleeves…romantic and beautiful!

Convertible Gowns
Inspired by Kim Kardashian’s triple-gown-play during her wedding last month, many brides are opting to plan a gown-change or two during their wedding event. They will wear one gown for their ceremony, a second dress for their reception and yet another for either their get-away or after party. While the idea is fabulous, not everyone has the budget for three completely different gowns, so designers are rising to the occasion with convertible gowns! These gowns are created to be flexible and have details that can be removed or added as the evening goes on, such as a bow, a train, a sash, straps, a jacket and more! Brides can just sneak away, make a couple of quick changes and voila, re-enter in a gown with a totally different look!

Full Skirts and Layered Skirts
Big and bold is the HOT trend when it comes to skirts. Designers are giving us layers upon layers of gorgeous fabric in so many different ways. Tiered skirts, pick-ups and multiple bustles give these dramatic skirts movement and depth. Look at this stunning design!

Tulle
Along those same lines, tulle is back! Once again, this flowy, romantic material is all over gowns and will soon regain its reputation as a go-to for wedding gowns. We heart this absolutely amazing gown with its phenomenal tulle skirt! YUM!

Color
Blushing bride, indeed! Wedding gowns in subtle shades of pink, peach and blush are still coming on strong. We predict that we will continue to see them more and more as brides realize a bridal gown can still be wedding-like in hues other than white and ivory. These soft colors are just gorgeous and will flatter all skin tones, adding to that unmistakable bridal glow!

Keyhole or Illusion Backs and Illusion Necklines
Brides are looking for ways to incorporate a little sexiness into their wedding day look and keyholes and illusions are a great way to do this! Candice Crawford showed us just how striking a keyhole back could be when she wed Tony Romo in her custom St. Pucchi bridal gown from Stardust. Many brides may not be quite so daring, but an illusion back or neckline will allow them to be both sexy and sophisticated! Tres chic!

Stay tuned as we will recap each day at bridal market from New York in October!

Trend Alert: Breakfast Burritos at After Parties

Nothing brings out the party animal in people like a great wedding reception! Brides and grooms often don’t want the night to end after just four or five hours with their guests, and we are continuing to plan after parties for our client couples as a way to keep the festivities going.

One of the key elements you always need for a successful after party is more food! You don’t want the guests to continue drinking without consuming food as well, but guests also need nourishment to keep up their stamina for all the dancing they’ll be doing!

One of our favorite things we’re doing lately for this midnight snack is the build-your-own-breakfast-burrito-bar. These fun stations present guests with mouth-watering offerings of scrambled eggs, beans, seasoned meat, guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and more to fold into a large soft flour tortilla. Who can say “no” to warm, melty deliciousness topped with salsa and wrapped in a tortilla?! Ummm, practically no one, so faster than you can say “hola,” talk with your catering director about including one of these fabulous buffets in your after party plans. Go ahead…your guests will say “gracias!”

James Clifford and Allure Bridals Trunk Show this Weekend

Call The Bridal Salon at Stardust Celebrations to reserve your appointment during our James Clifford Collection Trunk Show this weekend: 972.781.1619. You will not want to miss the designer's most stunning new gowns!

LuLu's Bridal Boutique is pleased to host a trunk show for Allure Bridals, sharing thier latest gorgeous fashions. No appointment necessary, so make plans to stop by!

An Evening of Bridal Luxury at Arlington Hall

StarDust Celebrations is pleased to be part of an exclusive evening designed to inspire you in your quest for an incredible and memorable wedding! We are joining several others of Dallas’ top wedding vendors at An Evening of Bridal Luxury at the fabulous Arlington Hall at Lee Park on Tuesday, September 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. This special event is hosted by Arlington Hall and Dallas Brides and will you give you an opportunity to visit with some of the best wedding professionals Dallas has to offer while learning about the latest trends.

We will display one of our newest, most exquisite bridal gowns and be available for questions regarding everything from our stunning wedding gown collections and dapper tuxedos to premier wedding planning and beautiful stationery – and anything in between – during the special event. Be sure to RSVP to this exclusive event today!

Alvina Valenta & Pronovias Trunk Shows This Weekend

Call today for your appointment during the fabulous Alvina Valenta Trunk Show at Stardust Bridal Salon: 972.781.1619.

Visit LuLu's Bridal Boutique in Uptown Dallas to check out the latest gowns from Pronovias. The gowns will be featured during a trunk show this weekend and no appointment is necessary.

Twogether in Texas: Marriage Education Classes

While you’re having so much fun planning your wedding, don’t forget to plan for your marriage as well! The state’s initiative, Twogether in Texas, promotes marriage education classes that provide eight hours or more of training on communication skills, conflict resolution and other elements of a healthy marriage.

The classes are offered through counselors, churches, temples and other organizations whose curriculum has been approved by the state. The classes are at least eight hours in length and can be taken in a one-day seminar, a weekend workshop or over several weeks of classes, depending on the provider couples choose.

 Another bonus of the class besides laying the foundation for a great marriage is that couples showing proof of completing an approved course will receive a $60 discount off of their marriage license fee and they can waive the 72-hour waiting period before getting married. You can find classes in your area on the website: http://www.twogetherintexas.com/. Happy planning and happy marriage!

Stardust Bridal Salon and LuLu’s Bridal Boutique to Carry Plus-Size Bridal Gowns

Curvy brides now have more choices – and samples to try on – when it comes to choosing their wedding gown. Both Stardust Bridal Salon and LuLu’s Bridal Boutique now carry Diva Dresses or Plus Size Gowns, in sizes 16-22.

Many salons advertise that they carry plus-size gowns, but they often only have eight to ten, or maybe a dozen styles. Stardust will carry 45 gorgeous designs in sizes up to 22, while LuLu’s will offer 40 beautiful styles in the larger sizes from several of the boutique’s fabulous designers, giving full figured brides-to-be much more freedom in finding the gowns of their dreams.

Our goal is to give voluptuous ladies a great variety so they can find ‘the gown’, the one that makes them feel gorgeous and confident on their wedding day. Every bride deserves a beautiful bridal gown; just because a bride is not a single-digit size, she should not have to settle for one of only a handful of designs. Make plans to come check out these stunning wedding gowns soon!