Veronica & Andrew's Marvelous Costa Rica Destination Wedding, Tony Bowls Gown & Custom Bridal Headpiece

One of my favorite design projects from last year was the custom piece made for Veronica. I was so happy when she recently shared photos of her destination wedding day at the Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel and Casino in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Veronica and her love, Andrew, met while teenagers working together at the Real Canadian Superstore (Alberta, Canada). Their wedding day with over 40 family and friends in this paradise setting marked 7 1/2 years of happiness together! Veronica shared, "our ceremony was on the beach, barefoot, and just beautiful! The tide was almost coming up onto the little spot we picked, but it would always break right before hitting the plateau. It was meant to be our day for sure."

I hope this brings as big a warm smile to your face and it does mine. . .

The couple and their guests enjoyed the wedding festivities in this setting, and Veronica highly recommends their wedding planner. . .

We had an amazing wedding planner named Andrea from Costa Rica Paradise Weddings. She did a phenomenal job of working with the resort to ensure all of the details from the wedding went off without any issues. The wedding itself was relaxed and stress free. The weather in Costa Rica was beautiful for the entire 2 weeks we stayed there. The people in the country are very friendly and it was just wonderful to walk around the area. The resort itself was a 5 minute cab ride to a local town; or you could walk along the beach a low tide to get to the town. The food was excellent; our wedding meal was especially delicious. I would highly recommend this as a destination to anyone looking for something a bit different than Mexico or the other typical destination spots. I also highly recommend Andrea's services if they live far away and won't be able to handle a lot of the details themselves; she took care of everything and it was AMAZING.

Veronica wore a gorgeous, colorful Tony Bowls charmeuse gown with a beautifully-beaded bodice and waistband. The geometric design of the colorful accents on the full A-line skirt only add to the drama of this design.

Veronica told me that color is very important to her and that she would like her favorite color of purple to dominate her headpiece design. We began by creating a Swarovski (vintage and contemporary) crystal and sequence motif in purple hues in a paisley shape to complement the similar shapes used in the bodice of her gown. This motif served as a focal point on a bed of cut white & dyed satinette and emu feathers.

I absolutely LOVE how her bouquet adds the warm hues of her gown with the purples and green to bring it all together. Perfect!

I keep looking back at my wedding photos in awe. It was such a perfect day; everything went so well! I am truly thankful for the work done by Sandra; I get so many compliments about my headpiece and I am so happy to give Breeziway's information out to friends. I really like that it was a beautiful piece that complimented my dress rather than take away from it. I am used to wearing things that are really different, and I think the headpiece did justice to my personality without being too out-there.

Thank you, Veronica, for sharing this special moment in your life with us.
It was a pleasure to work with you.

Wishing you and Andrew many years of happiness and the blessings of the family you seek. . .

Veronica & Andrew's Marvelous Costa Rica Destination Wedding, Tony Bowls Gown & Custom Bridal Headpiece

Danica's Custom Carolina - Passionate Red & Burgundy

Life has been busy, busy, busy. . . I am sorry to have neglected my sharing and figured it was time to get an entry ready.

It has been a pleasure to work with Danica as she prepares for her mid-June wedding in Connecticut. This has been no easy feat for her as she and her honey have been in Saudia Arabia - where they met in 2008. Their engagement began in 2010 on a beach in Sri Lanka. No moss grows on this pair, so it is no surprise that their wedding will be a zesty expression of their love of life and adventure.

Danica and Matt will hold a garden wedding at his family's summer cottage on the Atlantic in Niantic, Connecticut. Danica will wear the sassy tea-length gown below to be accented with red and burgundy. Her shoes and jewelry will be topped-off with a custom design in red and burgundy, inspired by the Carolina, paired with a crystal accented birdcage veil. The happy couple have asked their guests to wear a dash of red (or more) to keep the passionate theme in full- force.

The following photos of Danica's headpiece were sent to her today for feedback. We will then make any adjustments and finish the design to have it shipped to her in time for her stylist appointment.

It will be a day of love and fun for this happy couple, their family & friends! We wish them the very best on their wedding day & a lifetime of adventure.

Best,

Danica's Custom Carolina - Passionate Red & Burgundy

More Vintage Inspiration - 1950's Millinery Fashion

Visuals of Grace Kelly's mid-1950's wedding sent me to an archive of millinery styles to share (courtesy of my lovely daughter, Kirstin) . . .

Cloches of earlier decades evolved into the popular head hugging, brimless hats of the 1950's. This first style is representative of the turban sported by many women as more casual head apparel.

Hats-Off-To-The-50s-752791

The red hat in the center of the collage below looks identical to the off-white designs seen on the runway last year. . . was it Stephen Jones collaboration with John Galliano? I think so. . .

Hats-Off-To-The-50s-752791

Cocktails hats like that below were more simplified versions of the form covered in laces and other embellishments for Grace Kelly's bridal headpiece. . .

Feb_1955_Paris Christian Dior

Colorful, artificial fruit and silk flowers were pervasively-popular trims on mid-20th century hats. . .

April_1957_-_Ladies_Home_Journal

Angel_Face_1954

Feathers in their natural state or dyed in earth colors were also often used to trim hats during the 1950's. The natural iridescent cock feathers used in the design below may have foreshadowed the bouffant hairstyles that contributed to the reduction of millinery arts in fashion during the 1960's.

1950s_Magazine unknown

Berets were also popular during the 1950's. You have to love the bling on this one. Can you imagine what a contemporary beret made of Swarovski crystals would look like on the dance floor? We need to make one!

1950s_Conde Nast Archive

A shallow crown and wide brim has persisted as the popular style of our contemporary beach hats. These contemporary versions, however, generally lack elegant details such as the dual brim color (deep undertone) and the curvaceously-sculpted brim.

1950s Photo by Regina_Relang

We will soon be introducing our Eve design; inspired by these vintage qualities with a modern twist . . . I am eager to shoot photos of the various ideas we have for wearing this versatile new design with or without veiling, and will share them when time allows. Let us know if you are interested!

Ahhhh, the glamour of the 50's. . . I just love it.

Bracing myself here in Michigan for the blizzard headed this way. . . hoping those of you in the path of this storm are warm and safe indoors.

Best,

More Vintage Inspiration - 1950's Millinery Fashion

Tika Designs Captured by Hillebrand Photography for Wedding Style & Inside Weddings Magazines

It is such a pleasure to be touched by the talents of local artists. Our friend & amazing designer, Katerina Bocci, recently contracted a local photographer for a photo shoot of some of the gowns in her 2011 Bridal Collection. Selections from this shoot are featured in the current issues of Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style and Inside Wedding magazines. We were honored to be able to contribute several headpieces that were designed specifically for Katerina's gowns, so the photos also feature our Tika headpiece.

The prodigious photos below were created by Gabe and Jennifer Hillebrand of Hillebrand Photography. Their techniques captured the lovely, levitated model in mid-movement, so we experience the lightness of being that characterizes even the grandest of Katerina's ball gown designs, the Tika. I love the fluid expression of her designs. Can you imagine how you would look on your wedding day in this marvelous creation?

What is she contemplating?!

Oh, so demure. . . .

These and other photos from this shoot are available at the Hillebrand blog. They are definitely work looking at. . . as are the portfolios at the website link above.

Here's hoping that life brings you many moments of levity. . . .

Best,

Tika Designs Captured by Hillebrand Photography for Wedding Style & Inside Weddings Magazines

Sara's Customized Tress Bridal Feather, Swarovski Crystal & Silk Headpiece & Birdcage Veil

We have been working on a customized Tress bridal headpiece for Sara. It is time to share feedback photos with her before finalizing her design. I thought some of you might enjoy seeing the results of our work with Sara!

Sara has chosen the lovely strapless, silk chiffon Grecian-style gown in light ivory/silk white with princess neckline and champagne satin sash shown below.

Sara wanted several changes to the Tress design, which included customized dying of the silk organza & velvet pressed flower, the design of a pearl & Swarovski crystal accent, and the addition of taller stripped coque feathers. She has chosen the 12" French veiling birdcage in ivory, mounted on a separate comb. This will allow her to remove the veiling during the reception.

We have used a few shades of feathers to add interest to her design and created a dramatic accent of antique silver filigree elements, large pointed-back Swarovski crystals, and cultured pearls. The crystal accent is pinned in place in a few of the photos below, as we want to make sure that Sara is happy with the outcome before permanently mounting it in place. I was just thinking how lovely a matching accent (with or without feathers) would look on the left side of the empire, satin sash of her gown and will share that idea with her.

We will eagerly await her feedback!

Best,

Sara's Customized Tress Bridal Feather, Swarovski Crystal & Silk Headpiece & Birdcage Veil

Introducing Lori & Southeast Florida's Finest in Fashion. . . .

Thanks to our friends at Hot Pink Style in Southern Florida for choosing our new Lori headpiece during a recent photo shoot with John Fisher and Matt Dunn. The Lori tops-off the gorgeous bridal gown shown below, designed by Eduardo De Las Casas. We love the sweetheart neckline and draping peplum of Euardo's gown and think Jamie and Jenna of Hot Pink made a perfect choice in headpiece! Eduardo won the "New Emerging Designer" award during the Miami Fashion Week of 2008 and is expanding his collections with verve.

Breeziway clients in the Miami and Palm Beach area should check out the talented artists above for support with styling and photography needs. A perusal of the links above are guaranteed to provide visual treats and excellent ideas for your upcoming events.

The Lori headpiece is a recent addition to the Breeziway collection and has been worn by brides in its basic colors of ivory or silk white, as well as custom dyed for bridal attendants and others enjoying special occasions! It is now available via our online shop and a growing number of boutique affiliates.

I can't wait to share info about Jamie and Jenna's shoe parties with our S. Florida friends!! . . .will do so when I can figure out how to post a video about these
NOT-TO-BE-MISSED events.

Until then, be well,

Introducing Lori & Southeast Florida's Finest in Fashion. . . .