Wedding Tree, La Crosse, WI

So you have the dresses….. Now what?

twtree — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:47:10 +0000

After an amazing experience buying a bridal gown and having a blast shopping with the maids, many brides get stumped when it comes to what the guys are wearing or have an idea but no clue when/how/where to turn to for quality menswear.

Buying Suits V. Renting a Tux
First of all these are only two of the MYRIAD of choices that the modern bride is presented with. There are rental suits and purchasable tuxedos. There are partial rentals (think just the pant, shirt, and tie) available most of the year. You can always try to wrangle the guys to buy the same exact items from a retail store in the mall. See the break down below:

Rent v. Purchase
For 90% of the population, renting is vastly more convenient and affordable than even the steepest “buy one/get one” discount can offer. The average rental package in the United States is around $150 (including shoes and upgrades) and that includes ALTERATIONS, even last minute ones. This askmen.com article lists it’s ‘economical suit’ at $737, without alterations and let’s face it…. people just don’t fit into finite sizes very often without a slight tweak here and there. Tuxedos and Suits are also much more fitted and have much less stretch than ready to wear clothing than the typical American Male is used to. (The Wedding Tree does offer retired rentals at a much lower purchase price, but that is another topic entirely.)

Trust me, everyone needs (or should have) alterations to look their best. For that matter, do your guys really want to own the same exact suit? My brother and 5 of his friends bought a suit for his friends wedding and none of them has ever worn it since. They’re all too afraid that the other ones will wear it too. Turns out, sometimes guys are just as conscious of their looks as we are, they just don’t want it broadcast to the world!

Coat and Tie v. Pants and Shirt
The difference here ladies, is formality. If the shindig’s guest list is topping out at 300+, you’re wearing a princess ball gown and the girls are in formal floor length bridesmaid dresses, you should seriously think about going with a full tuxedo to avoid making the guys appear sloppy in comparison to the girls finery.

Somehow short and flirty barefoot maids look perfectly comfortable next to a simple shirt and tie.

Long dresses in a ballroom beg for the James Bond cool of a beautifully cut basic black tux!

Charcoal grey looks simply stunning at both relaxed vintage inspired fetes and upscale, posh affairs.

Brown has made a serious splash for fall/outdoorsy weddings and it surprisingly looks beautiful paired with many gorgeous colors.

I love the soft informality of the vest and tie paired with mix and match dresses. A bride could have her girls order at the same time from the same company to assure the correct color match but allow her girls the freedom to choose any dress that made them feel comfortable and pretty!

Above all, I recommend choosing the source of your menswear with care. A good supplier will help to fulfill your vision while making everything as painless as possible for your guys. This includes providing last minute alterations to provide as close to a perfect fit as possible. Why are last minute alterations ideal? For a variety of reasons 1) There is no exact size 40R any more. Many of the more slim fitting coats have smaller arm holes and a more narrow clearance through the middle, some older styles are much longer through the torso. This means that the same gentleman can be a 40R in one coat, a 39S in another and a 42R in another coat. 2) The fit is dependent upon accurate measurements. Certain areas/stores are notorious for providing poor measurements to anyone except their renters. Smart and forward thinking shops provide accurate measurements regardless of who is providing the rental, because any person could be a future customer. 3) No one in customer service wants to acknowledge the elephant in the room, nor should they, but sometimes people change size.

Until Next Time!
-Amber

Winter Inspiration

twtree — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:45:54 +0000

Winter in Wisconsin can be unpredictable and harsh. But it can also be breathtakingly beautiful. I think anyone would have to be a very brave soul to attempt a winter wedding in the Midwest, but they will also be able to reap the generous rewards of some gorgeous photos. Check out these winter inspired weddings!

Special thanks to the fabulous bridal blogs stylemepretty.com, apaperproposal.com, thesweetestoccasion.com, bonafidebride.com, and greenweddingshoes.com for putting up gorgeous and inspirational photos to share with our brides!

Until Next Time!
-Kacia

Fall Inspiration

twtree — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:14:51 +0000

Fall is by far my favorite time of year. (It might have something to do with my birthday coming around each year in October… then again maybe it’s just because of the beauty!) Fall, especially here in the Midwest and ESPECIALLY here in La Crosse, can be absolutely breathtaking. The leaves all across the bluffsides change into vibrant colors that reflect off the water of our mighty Mississippi. And the air! Fall may be the one time of year in Wisconsin when it’s not too cold, and it’s not too hot! You can’t beat that! So here are a few fall inspired weddings to get you excited about the season that we’ve just begun!

Until Next Time!
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trends: ‘Tis The Season For A Wedding!

twtree — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:23:34 +0000

Here in the Midwest, season changes can be extreme! You’d be surprised how many brides feel the need to create a wedding theme, and use colors appropriate to the season that they’re in! No matter which time of year is your favorite, there is a wedding theme appropriate for you. Here are a few fun options for each season!

Until Next Time!
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trend: Over-The-Top Cakes!

twtree — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:27:59 +0000

With all the new bakery and cake shows out right now, (don’t you just love Cake Boss on TLC?) one of the fabulous new wedding trends is to do a fun and unique wedding cake that all your guests will remember. Whether you use your favorite movie characters (see the Shrek cake? or the Alice in Wonderland?), your favorite video game (Mario!), you want to be a princess in a castle, create a fun scene (see the CIA secret agent bride and groom?), or just create fun shapes and bright colors, your wedding cake is an excellent way to express yourself, and challenge your baker ;)

Until Next Time!
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trend: DIY (Do-it-yourself!)

twtree — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:35:39 +0000

A poor economy and high unemployment rates have taken their toll on our wallets… and our wedding plans! One of the hottest new trends for the year is the Do-It-Yourself wedding. For brides on a budget, DIY projects can be a great way to save some dough and add a few personal touches to the big day’s plan! Here are a few adorable DIY projects that I think you’re going to love!

The Bouquet!

You just may notice that two of these bouquets hold real flowers and two do not! Whether you choose to add some spunk to your DIY bouquet with detailed ribbon and brightly colored flowers or keep a simple elegance by using all the same flower and a pretty, white ribbon, a real flower bouquet can be a fun project for you to express yourself and your style. If you’re looking for something a little more unique, try a brooch bouquet! This trend has quickly been sweeping the wedding world. The last bouquet is an elegant mixture of gorgeous silk flowers and handmade newsprint creations. This is something I’ve never seen before, and I absolutely love!

Place Cards that Double as Favors!

One great way to cut costs is to create a fun DIY project that combine two ideas into one! The awesome new trend of creating place cards that double as the guests’ party favors is fast becoming a productive way to help save in the budget. Plus they’re so stinking cute!

The Guest Book!

I LOVE this little guest book idea! The bride and groom created little “post cards” using stamps and cardstock! Each of their guests was then able to sign their name, draw a picture of themselves and leave their best wishes for the couple. What a fun and unique way to remember all the friends and family that attended your big day!

Having a photo booth at your wedding is fast becoming one of the hottest trends of the season. It’s a ton of fun for the guests and it can double as your guestbook! All this couple did was buy a simple “scrap book” that could be written in, and provide markers and tape! The photo booth spits out two copies of the photos, one for them and one for your book! How fun is that?

For the DIY Bride who wants a traditional guest book but with a twist of her own flare, a great way to create a guest book is to buy yourself a simple “guest book” or “scrap book” and create the cover yourself! This bride used her fabulous scrapbooking talents to artistically combine one of their engagement photos with fun colors and textures for a gorgeous DIY guest book.

So if you’re a Do-It-Yourself kind of bride take some of these awesome ideas and put them into practice!

Until Next Time!
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trends: Tara Keely

twtree — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:50:22 +0000

We are very excited to be adding the Tara Keely line here at The Wedding Tree. The Tara Keely collection is designed by Lazaro and represents some of the best styles and fashions available to brides. The gowns include silhouettes from sheaths to eye catching ballgowns.

Silk fabrics, organza overlays, and delicate lace make these styles glamorous and sophisticated. With delicate details and just the right amount of sparkle, these gowns offer something for every bride!

Come see the gowns at our Tara Keely Trunk Show from August 26-28!

Check out this video to see the Tara Keely Gowns on the runway!

Tara Keely – Fall 2011 – Sneak Peek

2011 Wedding Trends: The Parasol

twtree — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:31:51 +0000

A new item on runways this spring is, unsurprisingly for the fashion world, not quite so new. The parasol is being touted as the must-have accessory for spring and the return of sunshine, but this trend is dipping back into history by thousands of years.

Parasols originated in the East Indies about 5,000 years ago. In 3000 B.C., the Egyptians used parasols as a sunshade for sun protection. This was a royal privilege and bearers did the carrying. Around the 1st century B.C., the parasol spread to ancient Rome and Greece.

It took the Italian renaissance in the 16th century to introduce the parasol to European soil. King Louis the XIV soon after brought them to France. The English, ever imitators of French fashion, soon followed suit. The English were still not convinced and not much is recorded until 1787 when Britain manufactured its first batch. In the United States, a parasol appeared on a street corner in Windsor, Connecticut in 1740 carried by a fashionable lady. It had been brought all the way from the West Indies and may have been the first parasol in North America. A century later, no one would have noticed, much less parodied, a lady carrying a sunshade, for wealthy women throughout America and Europe considered parasols an essential part of any well-dressed lady’s wardrobe.

The parasol is most often thought of with Victorian society in England and the U.S. Perhaps the chief reason for its popularity at the time was the Victorian admiration (or obsession) for a fair complexion. It was more than a sign of beauty; it proved to the world that a woman was a lady, who didn’t have to work outdoors like “common” females did. They were as a much a part of a well-dressed lady’s outfit as were her gloves, hat, shoes and stockings. A fashionable lady carried a different parasol for each outfit. They became popular gifts for men to give their lady. Like the fan and lacy handkerchief, the parasol was both practical and an aid to the subtle art of flirtation.

A change in the social climate doomed the parasol, making it seem first quaint, then outmoded, and finally preposterous. In the 1920′s, a tanned complexion replaced pale skin as a status symbol, indicating that the owner didn’t have to work and could be around on the beach all day. During that decade when flappers wore rolled stockings and cloche hats, when hems rose and inhibitions fell — parasols disappeared. The most romantic accessories under the sun were relegated to the attic of history, with wasp waists and high-button shoes.

I, for one, love the idea of using parasol’s as a fabulous wedding day accessory! In fact, a few of our brides from 2010 hopped on this very fashion forward trend and I think the pictures turned out amazing! Check them out!

Words and History Credits to InventorSpot.com and Sara’s Parasols.

Until Next time!
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trends: Pairing Dark Colors with Bright Accents

twtree — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:40:19 +0000

It seems to be an accepted norm that darker colors tend to flatter a majority of skin tones, hair colors, and body shapes just a little bit better than light hues. But nobody wants a dark and drab wedding: so one excellent way to brighten up dark bridesmaid dresses is with bright accents! Check out these awesome color combos to create a uniquely chic occasion.

Navy and Yellow

Black and Fuschia

Purple and Green

Brown and Turquoise

Charcoal and Orange

So there you have it! Dark colors look amazing with just a splash of bright to make any wedding a look of sheer elegance.
Until Next Time
-Kacia

2011 Wedding Trends: Destination Weddings

twtree — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:06:07 +0000

This past year, I was FINALLY granted the opportunity to see the ocean! For years and years and I have been begging parents, grandparents, boyfriends, and anyone who would listen to take me to see the ocean… any ocean! Finally, an occasion arose, and I was able to take a summer trip to Oregon for a wedding, and lo-and-behold, spread out before me in all its beauty… the Pacific Ocean. Ever since, I have been obsessed. My new found obsession with the sea led me to ponder how I would create a destination wedding given the opportunity to wed alongside one of the most magnificent sights in the world. One of my favorite new destination trends is choosing to use an oceanic turquoise to really bring the sea to life as you stand on the sand. Check out these amazing destination designs, all done in some shade of turquoise blue.

I know a destination wedding may not be for everyone… but they sure are fun to look at! If you have an idea of some fun 2011 Wedding Trend that you’d like to see featured on our blog, feel free to post on our Facebook Wall!
Until Next Time!
-Kacia