Trend Alert: Seasonal Cocktails

We love this beautiful time of year when the weather is finally cooling off, everything is changing colors and the holidays are ushered in with a flourish. The fall and winter offer a multitude of opportunities to incorporate some seasonal flair in your wedding day. One of the biggest ways to include seasonality in your wedding is through – what else?! – the food! Restaurants change their menu offerings to reflect the best foods of the season, and most caterers and reception venues do, as well. Not only does the in-season produce provide a framework of a sensational menu, but it also lends itself to creative and unique cocktail inspiration. Today, let’s focus on cocktails!

Some of the most luscious fruits are at their prime during the fall or winter: apples and pears, all varieties of citrus, cranberries, and some more “exotic” options such as quinces, figs, persimmons, kumquats and pomegranates. Your cocktail choice doesn’t have to be a completely new creation; you can use these fabulous seasonal options as a twist on a classic cocktail: Citrus Sangria, Pomegranate Martinis or Mimosas, Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic, Cranberry Mojito? Yes, please! Or go a little off the beaten path with something like a Pear-Basil Sipper, Apple-Ale Wassail, Frozen Cranberry Margaritos (a mojito-margarita hybrid) and La Vie En Rouge.

Of course, you can always go with the tried and true holiday favorites, as well. Your guests are bound to enjoy beverages such as seasonal sparkling punch, creamy gingerbread or candy-cane inspired cocktails, frothy eggnog concoctions or some warm buttery drink. Mmmmm, is it 4:00 p.m. anywhere yet?!

We hope this has inspired you to embrace “Fall” or “Winter” when creating your wedding day celebration and the cocktails that go with it. Put your holiday-inspired, party-minded head together with your caterer or bartender to develop the perfect seasonal cocktail for your wedding reception. Or, call us to meet with our fabulous wedding planners; they are experts at helping brides map out a seamless vision of an incredible wedding from beginning to end. Cheers!

Incredible Deal on Ralph Lauren Tuxedo Extended

This summer, we put together a great promotion on one of our most sought-after wedding tuxedo styles. The discount has been so popular that we have extended it into next year!

As an authorized dealer for Ascot Formal Wear, Stardust offers all of the popular wedding tuxedo choices including traditional black (many styles), gray, tan (for destination weddings) and the new look, white dinner jacket with black pants. Stardust is now extending our very special deal on the stylish black 3-button Ralph Lauren tuxedo with notch lapel and includes shirt, shoes and your choice of vest and tie (either bow tie or long tie) for the extraordinary price of $100 + tax.

Stop in soon to check out the extensive collection of Stardust tuxedos and build your wedding day look!

Victor Harper Bridal Gown Trunk Show This Weekend

Join us at the Stardust Bridal Salon this Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 2, for a trunk show for one of our newer fabulous new bridal gown collections: Victor Harper! This incredible wedding gown line features gowns of drama, refinement, femininity and elegance. Call now to make your appointment to experience these stunning Victor Harper bridal gowns: 972.781.1619.

Something to be Thankful for: Two Great Trunk Shows this Weekend!

We are thankful for a wonderful year serving our lovely brides and their entire wedding community. We look forward to continuing to work hard through the end of the year and into the next, helping make all of your wedding dreams come true. To that end, we bring you two more fabulous trunk shows this Thanksgiving weekend, November 23-25!

Lazaro is one of our most popular designers, and it is no wonder! His current bridal gown collection is representative of the incredible, uber-stylish designs he is known for. Make your appointment now to ensure your time with these stunning wedding gowns. Call our Stardust Bridal Salon: 972.781.1619.

Allure Bridals is another fabulous bridal gown line that brides clamor after. LuLu's Bridal Boutique is hosting a trunk show for the extensive collection this weekend. No appointment is necessary, but make plans to come in and see what beautiful styles Allure has to offer.

Update: Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 Trunk Show Schedule

We have been busy adding trunk shows to our schedule to bring you the very best selection of and greatest shopping opportunities for the most fabulous bridal gowns and wedding day accessories. Check out our updated schedule and mark your calendars. Please note that we have several special shows where a representative of the designer or the designer him/herself will attend the show! It is always great fun for brides to have their photo taken with the designer of their wedding gown - what a wonderful memento!


Happy bride with the incomparable Lazaro; he also signed a sketch he drew of her in her Lazaro bridal gown.

And, you will not want to miss that Victor Harper Fashion Show in February! Save the date now to experience firsthand the glamour and drama of Victor Harper bridal gowns! Remember, you should call for an appointment during a Stardust Trunk Show (972.781.1619), but LuLu's does not require appointments. We hope to see you soon!

BRIDAL TRUNK SHOWS

2012 - 2013

November
Lazaro and Noir by Lazaro Trunk Show, November 23-25 at Stardust
Allure Bridal Trunk Show, November 23-25 at LuLu’s
Victor Harper Trunk Show, November 30- December 2 at Stardust

December
Toni Federici Veil and Accessory Show, December 7-9 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Representative of Designer

January
Augusta Jones Trunk Show, January 4-6 at Stardust
Pronovias Trunk Show, January 4-6 at LuLu’s
YSA Makino Trunk Show, January 11-13 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Allure Bridal Trunk Show, January 11-13 at LuLu’s
Alvina Valenta Trunk Show, January 18-20 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Representative of Designer
Victoria Nicole Trunk Show, January 25-27 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
David Tutera Trunk Show, January 25-27 at LuLu’s

February
Watters and WToo Trunk Show, February 1-3 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Representative of Designer
Birnbaum and Bullock Trunk Show, February 8-10 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Casablanca Trunk Show, February 8-10 at LuLu’s
Jim Hjelm Trunk Show, February 15-17 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Victor Harper Fashion Show, February 21 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Victor Harper Trunk Show, February 22-24 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer

March
Matthew Christopher Trunk Show, March 1-3 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Paris Veil and Accessory Trunk Show, March 1-3 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
James Clifford Trunk Show, March 8-10 at Stardust*
          *Special Appearance by Designer
Lazaro Trunk Show, March 15-17 at Stardust
Hayley Paige Trunk Show, March 22-24 at Stardust

April
Tara Keely Trunk Show, April 5-7 at Stardust
Claire Pettibone Trunk Show, April 19-21 at Stardust

Special Groom’s Gift: Wedding Day Cufflinks

Brides, are you looking for a great gift idea for your beloved? Guys can be tough to buy a wedding gift for, what with their love of all things sports and electronics. We love these cool cufflinks that make a great sentimental gift for the groom that’s not over-the-top sappy. Check these out!

Customized these with your wedding date and each of your initials

To make them more practical, just have your groom's monogram stamped onto them

Love your dogs and trying to find a way to incorporate them into the wedding day?

A subtle way to incorporate meaning: the infinity symbol or love knots

Your names and wedding date make these extra special

Give a nod to your two hometowns with these unique map cufflinks

A sweet and subtle wedding day memento



LOVE these wood cufflinks made from Civil War era reclaimed barnwood;
the darling heart with the initials is so classic and sweet



Another classic - vintage initial links with a stone

What do you think, ladies? With some imagination, you can come up with your own custom version of cufflinks for your groom!


image credits: Cuffart, Green Wedding Shoes, Groom Stand, Onewed, Blue Nile, Recycled Bride

Creative Marriage Proposals

In just two short weeks, Thanksgiving is upon us. For the wedding biz, that means one thing: proposal season! That’s right; the 12 weeks or so between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day make up the time when more couples get engaged than any other time of the year.

While a traditional, intimate marriage proposal is always in style, we love that guys are getting very creative in making BIG plans to ask their girlfriends to become their brides. Here are a few precious proposals we’ve enjoyed, and we hope you will, too! Grab a few tissues, as there are some truly tear-inducing emotional moments!











Aren't these just awesome?! What do you think - do you have a favorite?

Your Wedding Online: JLM Couture Real Weddings

We haven’t met many brides who mind a little “press” about their wedding day; just a little shout-out of recognition that shares their beautiful wedding with the world. JLM Couture wants to give that opportunity to lovely brides who have worn Alvina Valenta, Blush by Jim Hjelm, Hayley Paige, Jim Hjelm, Lazaro or Tara Keely.

JLM Couture’s Real Weddings showcases brides and their bridal parties who have worn wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses by one of their renowned designers. Submit your story with photos via their website to be considered.

Check out a few Stardust brides who have been featured! Aren’t they just beautiful in their JLM bridal gowns?!


Stardust bride Kristin chose this stunning Lazaro for her Vegas wedding.



Elegant bride Melissa found her Jim Hjelm at our Stardust salon; her bridesmaids wore Jim Hjelm Occasions.



This stylish Stardust bride added her own embellishments to her gorgeous Lazaro gown. Another Vegas wedding!





Radiant bride in an over-the-top Lazaro found at Stardust!

  We hope to see your wedding on JLM's website soon!

Matthew Christopher Trunk Show This Weekend

Join us at StarDust Bridal Salon November 9-11, for a bridal gown trunk show for the fabulous Matthew Christopher! Matthew Christopher is known for his passion and superior service, with his gowns sought after for their drama in every detail and the careful construction that gives each bride an impeccable fit. Call today to schedule your appointment during this exciting shopping event: 972.781.1619.

Mind Your P’s and Q’s: Being Grateful

It’s been awhile since we’ve covered an etiquette topic here so we thought today we would focus on gratitude. During the course of your wedding planning, you are likely to be helped by numerous friends and family members, as well as the vendors you have hired for your big event. Not only that, you’ll also receive dozens of gifts, often from people who will travel great distances to help you celebrate your marriage.


The bottom line of our advice today is simple: be grateful. That’s it. Simply be gracious and appreciative. In the midst of all of your wedding preparations – the fittings, the planning meetings, the parties and all that – don’t forget your manners. A sincere and heartfelt “thank you” goes such a long way, whether it is for a gift, a thoughtful act or an encouraging conversation that helped you keep perspective in the middle of your wedding-planning-induced mania.

While drafting a nice thank-you can seem overwhelming, it is really quite easy. There are just a few elements of a meaningful thank-you note:

Make it timely. There is misinformation floating around in the wedding bubble that claims brides have a year to write a thank-you note. That is not correct, nor is it accepted etiquette. While your wedding guests have up to a year to send a wedding gift, you have three months to send a thank-you note. If at all possible, try to write a note the day you receive a gift; your note will be more sincere and frankly, flat-out easier to write. If that is not feasible, try to not let them pile up and overwhelm you. Make a goal of writing three or four a day and you’ll be done before you know it! And by all means, enlist the help of your new hubs. Most of those gifts were given to you as a couple, not just to you, the bride!

Make it personal. It’s a fact: with technology at our fingertips today, our handwriting quality is suffering. BUT. You really must handwrite your wedding-related thank-you’s. And write your note in your own style, just as you would speak. It’s not necessary to attempt some lofty missive that sounds nothing like you. Your gift-giver just wants to hear from you, that you received their thoughtful gift and are greatly appreciative of them.

Make it specific. Be sure to mention the specific gift and how you will use it. Or if you’re writing a note to your wedding party members, a vendor who went above and beyond, a shower/party hostess or anyone else that performed a kindness for you during your wedding planning journey, be sure to thank them for what they did and how it blessed you. And if you choose to send gift acknowledgement cards, do not think this replaces a personal, sincere note. They are just a tool to let guests know you received their gift and an official “thanks” will be on its way.

The best advice we can give you is to not look at writing thank-you notes as a chore. Remember that your friends and family love you and are excited to be a part of your wedding. Writing a short and sweet note expressing your gratitude for them and their involvement should remind you that you are privileged to have such wonderful people sharing your life. For more tips and suggestions on writing winning thank-you notes, use a trusted wedding etiquette resource such as Crane’s Wedding Blue Book or Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette. We have both of these excellent books available at our Stardust salon.