Personalize T Shirts

I love these personalised wedding Tees from PWP Online for two reasons. They make a great wedding gift for a bride and groom, and the cute pink and blue 'Just Married' is ideal for honeymooners happy to show off their new status and husband and wife. The T-shirt is also printed with the wedding date, solving the problem of husbands forgetting anniversaries - all a wife has to do is don the T shirt a few days before the important event and hope that her dearest hubby gets the hint.

Or is that hoping too much??

If you are a little more sceptical about the whole nuptial affair, then perhaps you will enjoy this T shirt more.


Visit PWP Online now to see more great wedding gift ideas.

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Elegant and timeless: Caroline Castigliano

Elegant and timeless are words that have been used describe the designs of Caroline Castigliano. This season the words classic, chic, and contemporary can be added to her repertoire as Castigliano adds a touch of whimsy to her stunning designs.

Fitted bodices with flowing skirts in tone on tone white and ivory have always been a Castigliano signature. Added to this classic silhouette for spring are modern details every bride will love. Castigliano has chosen to play with fabric textures and layering to create a truly romantic collection. Unusual bits of contrast such as a slim ribbon of black at the waist or a soft metallic rose on the bodice add a stylish contemporary touch.

When asked how she conceives her designs Castigliano has been quoted as saying, “I imagine a ‘muse’: she may be an actress or celebrity or even a student that I see on the street and I will be inspired by her image – I then start creating gowns that would be amazing specifically for her. Generally the gowns develop from there until in the end they have a personality of their own.”

What makes a Castigliano bridal gown exceptional? They not only look good, they feel good, too! When designing each gown Castigliano considers the form of the dress and the shape of the body. Corsetry is constructed to make the gown fit and fall correctly. Brides will find that each Castigliano boutique works from the inside out when personally fitting gowns. If the corsetry is not correct the dress will not feel or look right.

Castigliano is well known for this exacting fit. Her early career in America as a sportswear designer has given her a unique understanding of the need for comfort and construction. ‘Survival Fit’, an upscale active wear line designed by Castigliano in Miami, Florida was sold in such luminous stores as Saks and Macy’s.

In 1990 Castigliano realized her dream of designing bridal gowns. Returning to the UK she took her knowledge of fit and form and opened her first bridal store in Surrey. Her designs became instantly popular and led to the opening of more stores, now totaling nine.

View her latest designs here.

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White Dresses at the Oscars

White dresses were all the rage at the Oscars this week. Nina Calloway at About.com weddings gives us the run down of who was wearing what from Sarah Jessica Parker to Jennifer Aniston.

Check out her gallery of white dresses at the Oscars.

Love it:
It is hard to pick a winner from so many beautiful and stylish women, but Nancy O Dell really stood out for me, in this amazing, slinky number.

Hate It:
Marion Cotillard's strange fishy Jean Paul Gautier gown came a close second, but Jessica Biel's Prada gown gets my vote for the worst white dress on the red carpet, looking more like a roomy bathrobe wrap than a glamorous Hollywood dress.

My favourite Oscars dress?
The Randi Rahm gown worn by Maria Menounos- imagine it in white for a sumptous, glamorous wedding gown!

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The writer over at Blissful Vows is a blogger after my own heart. They have just featured a look behind the scenes of one of my favourite bridal designers, Jim Hjelm. Although he may not be a household name, he is certainly a darling of the couture and celebrity world, and for good reason. Hjelm designs are always so tasteful and flattering, with a depth of detail that is not often seen in modern day fashions.

My personal favourite from their 2009 range is this low backed sheath design which reflects the current taste for vintage nicely, with a champagne colour and plenty of lace.

Blissful Vows promise to be featuring more from other designers in the near future, so I highly recommend following me over there for a look.

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The Perfect Fit: Monique Lhuillier

The hottest trends in wedding gowns this season are gowns designed by the incomparable Monique Lhuillier. A passionate woman, Lhuillier was born to parents with French, Spanish, and Filipino ancestry. She spent her childhood in the Philippines and travelled extensively with her family. These travels, along with her mother’s great sense of style, were early influences on Lhuillier.

Lhuillier has stated that she always wanted to design clothes. After high school she attended the Fashion Institute of Merchandising and Design and designed her first creations under the tutelage of several famous designer mentors. Once her studies were completed Lhuillier travelled to France to work for a small French design firm.

Lhuillier did not start out to be a wedding gown designer. She has stated in interviews that she only became interested in wedding gowns when she designed her own gown. What an inspiration it must have been. In 1996 she launched her very first wedding gown collection and the world became enchanted with Lhuillier.

Lhuillier has designed dresses for many Hollywood stars and fashion icons. The American singer Pink insisted on a black and ivory Lhuillier gown for her wedding to Carey Hart. She did double duty for singer Brittany Spears when she designed 2 wedding dresses for her wedding to K-Fed. The first, a long Italian silk, was worn during the ceremony. A short lace dress was designed for the reception and Lluillier also designed all the dresses for Brittany’s bridal party.

The list of Lhuillier’s famous clients runs on and on. Ali Landry, the star of Eve, called on Lhuillier to design the perfect romantic gown for her secluded and secret Mexican wedding. Emilie de Ravin From the hit American TV show Lost wore a Lhuillier gown of long and extravagant lace to her small wedding. And Kevin Costner’s bride, Christine Baumgartner, deigned her 2004 gown with Lhuillier.

A Lhuillier gown is a masterpiece. Fashion editor Marge Eli says that a gown designed by Monique Lhuillier will make a bride feel like a princess on her big day. In an article Eli stated, “These gowns, they are not for the faint of heart. It takes a personality to wear a Lhuillier gown or else the gown will wear you!”

A Monique Lhuillier gown is luscious and very feminine. The workmanship employed in making these wedding gowns is impeccable. The fabrics are rich. Eli describes a Lhuillier gown as a, “walk down a garden path in the Tuileries. The dress, it is at once present day and old fashioned. It is a bit like a stroll with old King Louis, no?”

Most of Lhuilliers gowns are very simple and rely on the fabrics and design to give the gown its romantic feel. Almost all of her designs are sleeveless. She also favours tight bodices and full skirts.

The quality of a Lhuillier gown is unquestionable. With prices starting at $2000 you will want this wedding dress to become a family heirloom.

View the 2009 Collection.

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