Detroit wedding vendor

Cozy Up to These 7 Winter Wedding Perfumes

February 28, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides

Spring will soon be here, but if there are any lingering wintertime nuptials left on your calendar (maybe even your own!), you’ll want to read this. Why, you ask? Because we have the perfect winter wedding perfume, just for you! Some of the best scents come alive in winter months, packed with rich notes of deep berries, citruses, musks, spice, and everything nice.

So if you’re getting married in the last few weeks of the season, here are some of our favorite scents to rock down the cold-weather aisle.

J’adore Eau Lumière

Dior

For subtle scent seekers, J’adore Eau Lumiere by Dior boasts a sophisticated scent that exudes citrusy notes of blood orange, a signature smell of the season. Combined with floral notes, vanilla, and lemon, it’s fresh, floral, and especially romantic.

Prada Candy

Prada

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t embrace a sweet scent. Perfectly bold but bright, hints of white musk balance the spice and sweetness—hence the name. Bold caramel combines with powdery notes and vanilla for a flirty and feminine fragrance that’s perfect for your wedding day. [Read more…] about Cozy Up to These 7 Winter Wedding Perfumes

The Return of Cool…Tuxedos

February 10, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

As with all trends they eventually circle back to the classics. Menswear for 2018 is no exception. This year brides and grooms are turning away from the trendier styles of the past and upgrading (in our humble opinion) to a more timeless silhouette.

The classic tuxedo has fully made its comeback in bridal, but it doesn’t mean that there’s just one style for men. Within the world of formal wear there are many silhouettes and ways to differentiate yourself from all the other guys in “penguin suits.” We want to make sure our Ashley & Alexandria’s clients know their options. Below are different areas where men can stylize their looks and really stand out on their big day and at other important events.

Style: Black or white jacket? Peaked or shawl collar? Grosgrain or satin lapels? Still think all tuxedos are the same? Well, that’s not quite the case. Even though you’re wearing a classic tuxedo, there are many ways to pick a look that is tailored to the formality and tone of your event. These subtle changes add up to a look that can accentuate specific aspects of the grooms personal style.

That’s Really Cool

Bow Ties: While opting for a crisp satin black bow tie is certainly a classic option, you and your groomsmen can look stylish and unique by spicing it up with color. You can also experiment with new materials including wood and feathers!

One Wed

Socks: This trend is going nowhere and we’re happy to see it stick around. Colorful and coordinated “sockwear” is a great way for the groomsmen to highlight their look, without the guests even knowing. Bonus points for grooms who attempt this. The photos of all the groomsmen with their socks is becoming one of our favorites!

Dunhill

There are many ways to stand out with style at your wedding. Stop by Ashley & Alexandria’s today to check out our selection of men’s tuxedos by Rondinelli and Dunhill!

– Ryan McClure

Everything You Need to Know About the 9 Most Common Wedding-Related Events

January 17, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Deciding to marry your partner means you’re signing up for more than just a wedding ceremony and reception. In fact, it’s kind of like signing up for nine different parties, all designed to celebrate this important occasion. While each is undeniably exciting, hosting a handful of events is no easy task. Here’s the skinny on what parties you’ll be organizing, planning, and just plain showing up for.

Engagement Party
Typically hosted by either the parents of the bride or the parents of the groom, this party should take place within one to three months of the engagement. Invitations are often extended to immediate family and a small group of friends, as all guests of the engagement party will also be invited to the wedding.

Bridal Shower or Couples’ Shower
Hosted closer to the wedding date—usually around two months to two weeks prior—the bridal shower celebrates the bride and showers her with gifts. These days, there are no specific guidelines regarding who should host this event, but close friends and/or family of the bride typically host this ladies-only soirée. Many couples are now opting to celebrate with a couples’ shower, though they should not host this themselves.

Bachelor Party and Bachelorette Party
Usually hosted by the groomsmen and the bridesmaids respectively, the bachelor party and bachelorette party take place at least one week prior to the wedding. The guest list typically includes same-sex members of the wedding party and any additional close friends and siblings.

Bridesmaid Luncheon and Groomsmen Luncheon
Either the day before or the day of the first major wedding weekend event, the bride and her bridesmaids, as well as the groom and his groomsmen, attend a brunch or luncheon. The mid-day events usually take place on the same day, but in different locations. Traditionally, the wedding party hosted these celebrations, but most modern couples are opting to cover these costs in light of the myriad expenses the wedding party has already covered.

Welcome Party
For couples hosting a weekend-long wedding, especially a destination wedding, kicking off the weekend’s festivities starts with a welcome party. This is typically set up as a cocktail party that all wedding guests are invited to attend. The welcome party is hosted by the couple or by their parents, either the night before the wedding or two nights before the wedding.

Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally hosted by the groom’s parents (though just as often hosted by the couple), the rehearsal dinner takes place one or two nights prior to the wedding. For local weddings, rehearsal dinner invitations may only include the wedding party and immediate family. For destination weddings, the intimate environment usually means the invitation can be extended to all wedding guests. This event provides a great opportunity for toasts and speeches to be given.

Wedding Ceremony and Reception
The wedding ceremony and reception can be hosted by anyone—the bride and groom, one set of parents or both sets of parents. Most often, invitations are extended to all guests for both events, but church wedding ceremonies may provide an exception depending on capacity limitations.

After-Party
With so many venues closing early due to noise restrictions, the wedding after-party has become a popular event following most weddings. Hosted by the bride and groom or the wedding party, this post-reception continuation of the evening is usually open to all wedding guests to attend but is more popular among the younger crowd of friends.

Day-After Brunch
Read more here.

8 Ideas to Keep Your Guests Warm at Your Winter Wedding

January 10, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

There’s so much to love about winter weddings (cozy décor, hearty meals, and breathtaking backdrops), but particularly blustery weather can leave the bride, groom, and their guests in a less than celebratory mood. If the weather outside is downright frightful, ward off shivers with our best warming tips. Here, eight ways to keep your loved ones warm and happy while the snow falls outside.

Thoughtful Favors

To keep everyone comfortable at your cold-weather celebration, stock your venue with blankets, wraps, mittens, or scarves that guests can use during the party and take home at the end of the night. These are especially thoughtful giveaways if any portion of your wedding will take place outdoors.

Outdoor Attire

If your wedding party is taking heading outside for photos, provide matching shawls or jackets for your bridesmaids. For the guys, consider suits made of wool and flannel, which are heavier than their linen and cotton counterparts. Choose a cloth weight between 14 and 19 ounces for the perfect balance of comfort and style; anything thicker may look and feel too bulky.

Limited Outdoor Time

Have you always imagined getting married with a snowy scene behind you? Make your dream come true, then move the celebration indoors for the rest of the evening. Guests will be much more comfortable if protected from the elements. If you’re tying the knot somewhere especially chilly, look for a venue with windows that show off the scene from the inside.

Heated Transportation

If your guests must walk outside between the ceremony and reception, consider renting comfortable transportation. You’ll protect everyone from the cold temperatures while also saving them from potential falls on slippery ice. Walking through the slush in high heels is never easy.

Piping Hot Drinks

Combat freezing temperatures by serving steamy beverages like mulled wine, hot chocolate, or warm apple cider. You can even create a coffee or espresso bar with various mix-ins. Guests will be especially appreciative of comforting hot drinks pre-ceremony and during cocktail hour.

Read the rest here.

Photo: Tulip Bridal

The 4 Wedding Planning Lists Every Bride Should Maintain at All Times

January 3, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Brides

Budgets, guest lists, important dates, to-do lists, and more can flood your mind and make what should be a fun and exciting time feel quite the opposite. Don’t worry—thanks to digital documents and smartphones, you can stay up-to-the-minute organized in an easy way, keep everything you need to know on you at all times—and ultimately save your sanity. Enjoy wedding planning a little bit more by keeping these four running lists.

Guest List & RSVPs
Once the dreaded initial draft of the guest list has been decided upon, create a Google Doc or something similar that is editable and instantly saved and shared and that includes names, guests, and addresses. You’ll be grateful you’ve done this on a few occasions: once it comes time to assemble and mail invitations, as you track RSVPs as they come in, and when it becomes time to make the seating arrangements.

To-Do
All Type-A’s out there, rejoice—this one’s for you. Every single bride should keep a running list of tasks, even if she has enlisted the help of a wedding planner or coordinator. If you usually think nothing is more satisfying than crossing things off your to-do list, it’s 10 times better for overwhelmed brides-to-be. Whether you prefer to go old-school and use a trusty notebook or keep an app for your planning needs, as long as you have one, you’ll be organized and accomplished daily.

Gifts Received

While traditionally your maid of honor or bridesmaid will be tasked with writing down what you receive and from whom at your bridal shower, you will likely receive gifts outside of that occasion too. As a gracious and thankful bride, keep a running list so that writing out thank-you cards is a bit less overwhelming. It’s also great to save this list as an upcoming reference for when you’re a wedding guest!

“Day Of” List

Read the key items you need for the “day of” here.