Finding the perfect dress for your daughter’s (or son’s) wedding can sometimes be quite challenging. In my case, I was able to find the dress for my son’s wedding with relative ease. I’m not quite sure if it was because I was four years younger or perhaps fifteen pounds lighter.

Either way, I went to one bridal shop, saw exactly what I was looking for, ordered it in my size, and three months later, discovered that it fit me perfectly on the first fitting. Job done; spectacular wedding over!

On my son's wedding day, I wore this turquoise Alfred Angelo 2-piece gown.

As Mother of the Groom, with the happy couple (the bride is The Wedding Yenta!) and my daughter who's now the bride-to-be!

This time around, my daughter is getting married, and it has not been so easy. I spent hours scouring the internet by Googling MOB dresses, and what came up consistently disappointed me. The floor length dresses I looked at were either: 1) way too frumpy, looking like dresses for the grandmother of the bride instead of the mother, or 2) far too youthful-looking. Now I pride myself on having a pretty youthful outlook on life in general, but I certainly don’t want to be one of those moms whose attempts to be fashionable have her looking like her daughter’s best friend instead of her mother.

My daughter and I have a great time together, and we’re very close, but the fact is, I’m her mother not her friend… and I’m 62, not 26! Where were the dresses that looked age-appropriate, yet fashionable and in good taste?

My daughter and I always have a fun time together and wedding planning is no different!

I started hitting some of the retail department stores like Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus, and I actually found a couple of dresses that fit the bill only to discover that they would have maybe one dress in that style or color in all of my area, and it was three sizes too big. The store’s seamstress assured me that taking in that much material would destroy the integrity of the dress. Back to the drawing board — or the shopping board in my case.

Finally, I realized what I needed to do. I gathered information from my extensive search and discovered a common thread. Most of the dresses that I was drawn to were from the same bridal company. And, coincidentally (or maybe not), it was the same company that had made the dress that I’d worn to my son’s wedding. BINGO! I realized that they had a company store about 45 minutes from where I live. I was able to make an appointment online (I love the Internet!), and when I walked in, there were several dresses for me to choose from. Some were too frumpy, and some were, in fact, too youthful. But there were also some very lovely dresses that were appropriate for me. I got to choose my color (the beauty of bridal salons as opposed to department stores or boutiques), and bam! I’d found the dress.

It will be ready in eight weeks, and with any luck, it’ll be right after the first fitting. Or maybe not. There are those extra fifteen pounds. I’d better get busy losing them… only six months to go!

They met in a quite special way just like they were in a romantic film. They were hanging out at the Bowery Hotel garden and Patricia was reading a book when David quoted a line from the book. Swoon! From there, a true bond grew between them.

Their wedding evening was absolutely gorgeous with perfect weather and a peaceful breeze which would set the pace for the whole event. The young and beautiful bride and groom made a wonderful pair, totally fresh and joyful, but at the same time very focused on the Jewish traditions with the utmost respect for their families and friends, who came from very different backgrounds, but still united by the same vital spirits.

One of the highlights was perhaps when David saw Patricia in her wedding dress for the very first time. Tears coming from their eyes and true love reflected on their faces.

Mazel tov, Patricia and David!

Venue: Trump Soho
Photographer: Leila Jacue. LL Style Photography
Videographer: Juan Marigorta. Estudios tripolares
Florist: G! Designs
Makeup Artist: Johanna Sanchez. Youngblood mineral cosmetics
Caterer: Esprit Events

Baby Yenta is going to be a flower girl in her aunt’s wedding this October and since she’s just started crawling, she’s becoming more and more like a real person. So, it’s hard to believe that time will fly and by the fall, she’ll be just a little over a year old and most likely cruisin’ around. Since she has her dad’s long legs (and really, what nice Jewish girl can complain?), the cruisin’ will be actually more like sprinting. Please be kind to us, Baby Yenta.

So, thinking ahead to all the flower girl fun, I decided to mentally prepare myself for my baby becoming a little girl. Emotional roller coaster aside, there is so much fabulousness to look forward to!

Flower girls in general are just darling. It’s enough to make the old ladies plotz and the mamas kvell. Meanwhile, dads are probably buying the most complicated combination lock ever made for a door so his baby girl can never leave the house and grow up. Apparently they do that. Grow up.

There’s so much to love about flower girl style. Let’s gush.

The most exciting part of a flower girl’s duties is wearing the beautiful flower girl dress! The girls can match the bride, wear the bridesmaids’ color, or even don sneakers and a tutu! There are no rules — just mandatory adorableness.

Top Row Left to Right: Charlotte Geary Photography, via Elizabeth Anne Designs, via Little White Book
Bottom Row Left to Right: via Events by Design, Nancy Neil Photography, via The Knot

Flower girls are cute by themselves, but the way they accessorize is bonus points for cuteness! Whether it’s method of flower-girling (basket, ribbons, or pomander?) or hair beautification, if you need a little inspiration, here are adorable ideas!

Top Row Left to Right: via Intimate Weddings, via AnnouncementsGalore.com
Bottom Row Left to Right: via On The Way To I Do, Photig Wedding and Portrait Photography, via On The Way To I Do

Kids are funny. They say and do the darndest things, right Bill Cosby? Make sure your fabulous photographer snaps some shots of your flower girl doing what she does best: cute!


Top Row Left to Right: Browers Photography, via Favim.com
Bottom Row Left to Right: via HP.com, Charlotte Geary Photography, Corey Ann Photography

Just when you think you’ve handed out the honors to your inner circle by asking them to be in your wedding party, you realize there’s still another honor to bestow on two lucky individuals: signing the ketubah.

This portion of your wedding day olympics is technically the Jewish marriage that makes the whole thing official, so bringing in people to witness and sign your marriage document is quite the honor.

Every ketubah must be signed by two witnesses and these people can double dip their honors by being part of your wedding party or they can be two entirely different people. According to Jewish law, the two ketubah signers must be Jewish and unrelated to the couple by blood (sisters and brothers-in-law are technically allowed to sign). Depending on the ketubah text and the couple’s Jewish affiliation, the ketubah signers will most likely sign their names in Hebrew. Give your witnesses advance notice to find out their Hebrew names so they can bring them to the ceremony. The rabbi can also help them write their names in Hebrew if they need help. After all, it’s probably been a while since their bar or bat mitzvah!

Make sure to let your ketubah signers know when and where they need to be before the official start time of the wedding. The ketubah ceremony takes place before the chuppah ceremony and it’s usually in a more private area of the wedding venue. Don’t forget to tell them where to be and when — it’s an easy detail to overlook, especially since you’ll be there no matter what. Well, hopefully.

Really take the time to decide on your ketubah signers. Their signatures will be on your ketubah forever and are a big part of your Jewish law marriage. Fleeting friends are probably not the best choices for this big honor. Still, you can be creative and thoughtful in the way you ask them! A personal note, a phone call, a gift with clues in the mail — you can’t go wrong! Letting them know it’s important to you is the main idea and your ketubah signers will be very flattered that you want them to be part of such an exclusive and meaningful part of your wedding day.

Your ketubah will be beautiful and it will be even more meaningful when your signatures are in the good company of two people who hold a special place in your heart!

It’s so exciting to have an expert in the house! Personally, I’ve always loved antiques and historical items. I may not be a mathematician (when I hear “pi” I think pumpkin and apple), but I do know this: vintage styles + wedding = gorgeous! Today, Mill Crest Vintage is on board to tell us all about creating a vintage look for your bridesmaids. Paula Cooperman, owner of Mill Crest Vintage, has spent three decades hand selecting each piece to add to her amazing collection of vintage bridal wear for both the traditional and non traditional bride. She has an amazing eye for detail and a great passion for finding what makes a woman feel the most beautiful on her wedding day. Offering personal and private bridal consultations in her Lambertville, New Jersey bridal salon, Paula has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of brides, gaining both experience and expertise in what goes into selecting a vintage bridesmaids dresses.

Now that you have found the perfect “dress of your dreams” wedding dress for what may be one of the single most important days in your entire life, how will you dress your ladies in waiting? Oy vey, the bridesmaid dress. A dress, once regarded as the most dreadful of all dresses, that a movie was made in honor of its deep heritage in a long line of matchy-matchy dresses worn by the few especially selected women in our lives, as they surround the gorgeous bride in all of her glory. The days of 27 dresses and coordinating dyed satin shoes are thankfully finding their way out of today’s wedding trends. Nowadays, brides are opting for frocks that are flattering to each individual bridesmaid, without taking away from the cohesive look of the wedding party.

Going with vintage is a wonderful way to unify your bridal party without actually having everyone wearing matching attire. Whether or not your wedding dress is itself vintage, you can easily turn to vintage to create a beautiful and unique look to your bridal party, while still complementing the design of your own dress and the overall theme of your wedding day. Bonus!! Your bridesmaids will thank you for choosing a dress that they will want to wear again and again!

So, how do you choose a collection of vintage bridesmaids dresses that will both coordinate and offer the opportunity for each of your bridesmaids to feel just as special as you intended them to feel? Well, the two most important things you will want to consider: first, the overall style of your wedding day and then, the style of your own dress. Once you have established the look and feel you are going for, then choosing vintage bridesmaids dresses can be based simply on either era, fabric, color, length, or print.

Maybe you are planning an afternoon garden wedding and you have chosen a fabulous tea length vintage wedding dress from the 50s, with luscious layers of tulle and a floral lace embroidered sweetheart neckline, topped off with a floral silk ribbon sash. In this case, you may consider a selection of tea-length bridesmaids dresses from the 50s all in solid tones to complement your flowers, or perhaps you might choose dresses with a delicate floral print that will work with your sash. For a 20s themed wedding, you may consider flapper style dresses with figure flattering cuts and fun fringe for each of your bridesmaids. Having a destination wedding somewhere sandy and warm amongst the swaying palm trees? Vintage tropical sweetheart cocktail dresses from the 80s, in varying colors of gorgeous floral prints, are the perfect choice. Bridesmaids can don these fabulous little vintage pieces, while going barefoot on the beach and can still dance the night away at your reception by throwing on a simple pair of pumps. The possibilities are truly endless.

Even if your wedding dress isn’t vintage, fear not. A vintage bridesmaids dress is still a great option for achieving a cohesive look for your wedding party. Consider fabric choices, such as lace, jersey knit or chiffon in solid tones that work well with the overall colors chosen for the reception. If your dress happens to be floor length, you may want to have all of your bridesmaids dresses come from the same era, but choose dresses that are knee length so as to still be set apart from the bride. If your dress happens to be lace, coordinating lace bridesmaids dresses will be the perfect choice. Chiffon bridesmaids dresses work well with silk bridal gowns, offering a fun way to play with tones and sheen.

You may be thinking “Great! Vintage seems like a cool choice for my bridesmaids, but where to begin?” I may be biased, but we would recommend the bridesmaid collection at Mill Crest Vintage. Not only do we carry one of the largest collection of vintage dresses for both the bride and bridesmaids, we also offer our collection in our online boutique, as well as in our Lambertville, New Jersey bridal salon.

Brides can shop online with confidence, as each vintage bridesmaids dress in our collection has been hand-selected for quality of construction, fabrication, style, and wearability. We also go to great lengths to describe each piece with exquisite detail. A handy measurement guide is available to assist in finding pieces that will fit your lovely bridesmaids – and just in case you fall in love with a dress that isn’t the right fit, we are here to assist! Nearly every good vintage piece can be altered to achieve a customized fit. Our professional seamstress is on hand to offer suggestions to our online customers about how any particular piece can be altered.

For those brides who are near our Lambertville, New Jersey bridal salon and boutique, we invite you to set up a Private Bridal Party Consultation with one of our vintage bridal experts. Alterations are available with our seamstress and vintage shoes and accessories are available to complete the ensemble. For more information or to set up an appointment, please feel free to contact us.

Don’t forget the Mother of the Bride! We’ve got a fabulous selection of vintage Mother of the Bride dresses too!! But that’s a different discussion…

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