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Blogs 
September 3, 2010
There's a new shop in town: It's Melvita, and it's got your organic -- and bridal -- beauty needs covered from head to toe. Seattle's the brand's second place to call home in the states, but the line's been doing its thing for 27 years. One of the first to be granted the ECOCERT stamp of approval (95 percent of ingredients are natural), it's also the number one organic-certified beauty brand in France. Très, très chic.
Melvita's downtown Seattle store.
One of our favorite aspects of the brand? Its products include ingredients you know, and can't help but love. I popped into the store to see what kinds of goodies brides might go giddy over working in to their every day, pre-wedding skincare routines. Here are our top picks for looking your best, most natural self on your big day:
It's the day-of, you're stressed...and you want flawless skin for those happily-ever-after moments captured on film. Enter Melvita's Young Skin product line. With affordable options (you won't pay more than $50 for any addition), lavender, birch, citrus, peppermint, even yogurt and ginger (translation: complexion-saving ingredients) treat skin gently in three steps. The stuff smells amazing, too.
Looking to slim and firm up before slipping into your gown? The brand's Algascience body care products are based on ingredients straight from the sea, using seaweed, caffeine and mint to tone cellulite and firm the skin.
We love Melvita's relaxing leg gel ($21) for post-wedding care, with cooling ingredients like artichoke, green coffee, rosemary and passion flower that help your muscles recover from a long night of dancing. Or, try their Kinesis massage oil ($32) with hints of eucalyptus, hybrid lavender, mint, rosemary, thyme and juniper berry.
For give-aways, check out the fondant body balm ($28). With thyme honey, cocoa and shea butter, it's ultra-nourishing for dry skin, and the perfect way to say thanks to those moms, bridesmaids and friends for all their hard work.
Hint: Whichever product you might choose to try, the Melvita gals recommend giving your skin at least two weeks -- but preferably a full month -- to adjust, as the skin's cycle takes about 28 days to fully come around.
For more information on Melvita products, visit the store on the first floor of downtown Seattle's Pacific Place.
August 31, 2010
We're loving this new "pig roast party" idea for your engagement celebration, rehearsal dinner or reception. Now offered by Herban Feast Catering, the updated take on a backyard barbeque makes for the perfect guest conversation starter with its festive, one-of-a-kind theme.
The pig's roasted onsite at any outdoor venue in a la caja China (traditional Chinese box) and served buffet style. "Barbeques are big," says Herban Feast owner BJ Duft. "Our latest innovation puts the Herban spin on this popular pastime and creates a lively and unique way to celebrate at some of the areas best outdoor venues such as Fall City Farms, The Fields at Willie Green's, Golden Gardens Park Bathhouse, and even company courtyards or our own courtyard at Sodo Park."
With a price tag of $18 per person with a 50 person minimum, Herban Feast pairs the special dish with your choice of one of the following four menus:
Classic Luau: Enjoy smoked pig served with macaroni salad, Spam® musubi, braised cabbage and a tropical fruit salad.
Southern Swine: For those looking for a Texas inspired taste, this pig is dry-rubbed and glazed with barbeque and hot sauce. Accompaniments include hush puppies, baked beans, collard greens, grilled corn, sweet pepper coleslaw and the not-to-be-forgotten Texas Toast.
Oaxacan: Here, swine's served south-of-the-border style with an Ancho-rubbed pig served alongside a selection of salsas, refried beans, Mexican rice, tortillas and sopes.
Southeast Asian: Based on classic Vietnamese dishes, this feast features lemongrass and garlic-rubbed pork served with Nuoc Cham dipping sauce and Sweet Thai chili sauce, green mango salad, banh xeo crepes, sticky rice, Thai curry potatoes and garlic green beans.
For more yummy wedding fare inspiration, check out "Ask the Experts" in our current issue, where we chatted with local caterers to get the inside scoop on the hottest menu items around.
To book a pig roast, call 206.932.4717 or email marketfresh@herbanfeast.com.
August 27, 2010
It's that time of year again: A new season's on our doorstep and fall's best trends are gracing covers and displays. Incorporating cool-weather trends into bridal apparel isn't as out of context as it might seem. In fact, there's never been a more perfect time to make your wedding day look all your own. Fashion's newest rule is -- simply put -- that rules need not apply. Instead, it's all about finding a style that works for you: Your body, your personality, your lifestyle, your big day.
Looking for a simple way to trend-up your look without sacrificing tradition? Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. To make it easy, here are three of the season's hottest jewelry trends that effortlessly translate to wedding day style.
Gold is the new black: Warm metals don't go out with the sun. Cuffs, bangles and statement necklaces in gold are the perfect way to heat up a look. Plus, "you can never have too many rings," hints Erika Medina, stylist at Tiffany & Co. Medina styled multiple on-trend looks last night at the Bellevue store's Forever in Fashion event, all part of Fall Fashion Week 2010 at The Bellevue Collection, which brings together the best of America's premier haute fashion with daily events through this Sunday.
An ode to classic Chanel, made modern: Yes, pearls are a classic. And yes, they can be made modern. "It's all about layering," Medina says. "Adding long strands of pearls make for a vintage look that's anything but old-fashioned."
Boho chic: From a pop of color achieved by pairing a colorful gemstone necklace with your classic white or ivory gown (check out "Unveiled" in our current issue for some great tips on how to wear), to bold, cocktail rings that add a little bling to the cocktail attire many Seattle brides are opting to change into for the after party, don't shy away from accessories that make a statement. "Always opt for a long pair of earrings," says Medina. Whether simple pearl drops or dangly gold hoops, "they add structure and can elongate the face," a great addition to any up or down do.
Erika Medina showing off new fall trends from Tiffany & Co.
You can still catch some Fall Fashion Week events -- and pick up some fall statement pieces of your own -- through this weekend at The Bellevue Collection.
We recommend checking out the American Fashion Collection still photography installation for some stunning inspiration, on exhibit at Bellevue Square in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Assouline Publishing and Vogue.
General admission tickets ($75) still remain for Saturday's Front Row Fashion at the Hyatt Regency's Evergreen Ballroom, presented by Vogue and benefitting The Moyer Foundation. Tickets include drinks and appetizers, entrance to the show, a swag bag, a $20 gift certificate to The Bellevue Collection and admittance to the VIP Shopping Night immediately following the show. Must be 21 or over to attend.
On Sunday, watch as SEVEN the Salon and Zebra Club ignite the runway with cutting edge designs at the Freestyle Theory show. Tickets are $50 and exclusively available at all SEVEN and Zebra Club locations. For additional information, call SEVEN at 425.289.1777 or Zebra Club at 425.450.5542.
For more information, visit http://bellevuecollection.com/fashionweek/event.php.
August 26, 2010
In the wedding industry there are so many people who make the big day come together, but what happens when the bride herself feels like she’s falling apart?
Enter Kristina Smith, better known as Dr. Bride. Kristina has worked in the wedding industry for the past 17 years, where she started out as a cosmetologist. She soon found that her natural inclination for dispensing advice, combined with a great sense of humor would made her a natural bridal counselor and advisor. In this role Dr. Bride works one-on-one with brides, speaks at wedding shows, writes wedding blog, and has a few wedding advice books in the works.
We were excited to have the opportunity to ask Dr. Bride a few questions about her unique services, and see what her best advice is for dealing with those frazzled emotions that go into planning any wedding.
KK: Why do brides need Dr. Bride?
Dr. B: I think there are tons of books, articles, propaganda, blogs, TV shows out there that help the bride plan the production side of the wedding, so that’s covered, but what about the emotional side?
There is so much negative attention about the “Bridezilla” mentality, but nobody’s addressing it – so all this just enables the bride. My goal is to share my observations about the wedding planning process with a candid sense of humor, honesty, and realness that is lacking in the wedding industry and society today.
My job is to help brides from all walks of life, from the “lil’ zillas” to the “big zillas,” to cope with the emotional pitfalls and give them the tools needed to survive the engagement and planning process. Hopefully the skills they learn will make the Bridezilla extinct to the next generation of brides!
KK: How should moms/friends handle a major bridal meltdown both leading up to, and on the day of the wedding? Any tips for cooling them off? Deflecting? Distracting?
Dr. B: The best advice I can give people is this: Don’t Feed The Bridezilla. What I mean is stop asking her about the wedding, stop telling her it’s her “Special Day,” stop referring to her wedding day as “The Most Important Day of Her Life,” just stop. Stop, stop, stop!
When she’s freaking out, be a thermostat, not a thermometer, regulate the temperature, don’t react to it, and above all don’t encourage it.
KK: How do you deal with other stressed out parties? Let's say - Momzillas, for instance.
Dr. B: It starts with the bride realizing her wedding day is not just about her. She can avoid these emotional pitfalls by appreciating and recognizing others, and the parts they play in helping her pull it all off.
As far as Momzillas… they are just Bridezillas in mom clothing! (Laughs.)
The whole phenomena “Bridezilla, Momzilla” is just a cutsie name for what I call BBD, better known as Borderline Bride Disorder. BBD is irrational behavior induced by the stress of planning a wedding.
KK: Do you ever meet with grooms?
Dr. B: Yes I do actually! In fact I met with a groom this week. He was feeling really confused because he didn’t know what part he was supposed to play in the whole wedding planning process.
I was able to find out how much he was willing to participate and get him excited about planning his wedding. Yep that’s right, it’s his wedding too! I set him up with a men’s clothier to design his suit, set up a whiskey/cigar tasting for him and his crew, set up a cake tasting cake company to do his groom’s cake: All things that he could do to make the wedding his too.
KK: What's your most essential bit of emotional advice for brides?
Dr. B: Contrary to popular belief your wedding day is not the most important day of your life. Your wedding day is a celebration of your love for one another, not a Hollywood production. It’s about celebrating your life together. Your wedding day is one of many special days in your lifetime, some days will be better than others, but always remember, it’s all the of regular days in between that are the most important of all.
KK: What's your best advice for how a bride can keep herself zen on the big day?
Dr. B: I know you want to look like the perfect bride on your wedding day, but I say don’t just look like the perfect bride, be the perfect bride. The perfect bride has a glow that no self-tanning lotion can give, it’s that glow that comes from loving and being loved. It’s a smile that no expensive teeth whitening system can give, it’s that smile that beams with confidence and contentment with living in our own skin, and it’s the clarity and sparkle in her eyes that comes from pure happiness not a Visine bottle.
Check out Dr. Brides' website for more helpful tips for recognizing bridal emotions and how to deal with the gracefully.
August 23, 2010
Gear up your slippers and coffee mugs because this party is coming straight to your living room (or your home office). JCPenney’s wedding experts are hosting an online wedding registry webinar for brides-to-be on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. "Meet" other engaged couples, share ideas and
ask the experts during a live chat.
Clueless brides can check out helpful recipes and product demos from Cuisinart, KitchenAid and Mikasa, all from the comfort of your favorite recliner.
Prizes will be given away every ten minutes throughout the event, and each bride will receive a JCPenney coupon just for attending. So, click
here and mark your calendars because this is one party that you won’t want to miss.