Bridal Style Inspiration Blog for Sun*Kissed Designs - The Sun*Kissed Designs Studio

~Upon a Season For Giving Thanks!~

11/28/2013

As I reflect this Thanksgiving evening, I hold gratitude for the abundance of love, joy, and blessings in my life. Something that we all do upon a season for giving thanks!

With full stomachs and overflowing hearts, may you and your loved ones enjoy the company of one another, the blessings of plenty and the preparation for the time of giving.

This has truly been a blessed year for Sun*Kissed Designs! (As every year has been :) ) As an expression of my gratitude, please enjoy the Thanksgiving Sale. From now until Tuesday December 3rd, 2013, All Ruffle Collars previously on sale for $50 are $25, and All Large Hand Beaded Flower Shawls, normally $250, are $125!

This is a great way to get handmade, unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones for the Holiday season! This weekend is one of the most popular shopping times of the year. There is Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, all full of various sales and discounts. At times it can seem overwhelming, draining or impeding on the precious moments you have with family and friends. Take it easy and shop in a way that allows you to enjoy the journey! Happy Gifting!

This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

~Maid to Perfection~Styling Your Bridesmaids in Non-traditional Ways!~

4/26/2013

We can all recall images of bridesmaids in less than flattering bridesmaids' dresses! From the dresses that are terribly outdated to the dresses where the wrong color was chosen, even movies have been made about horrible bridesmaid dress choices! That image does not have to be apart of your wedding!!

Modern bridesmaid dresses have been designed with your bridal party in mind! Styles that not only compliment and flatter every figure and complexion, but are also cute enough to wear again in the future! Your bridesmaids will thank you!

While making the selection of your bridesmaid dresses, here are 4 creative ideas to consider.

Color~
Your bridesmaids do not have to wear the exact same color!! Dresses worn in the same style but in different hues and shades of the same color or within the same color family are a great way to make a unique statement! Shades of blue! Gathers of yellow! Choosing a color theme, such as Spring or Autumn, using a few different colors, is also a great way to switch it up.

Style~
Your bridesmaids do not have to wear the same dress style!! By placing each bridesmaid in a different dress style but in the same color, this will create an individual look that is accommodating of various body types and silhouettes! This also allows you to play around with the lengths, necklines, detailing and fabrications so that each of your gal pals is completely happy and looks stunning!!

Gown Style Theme~
Have you always loved vintage dresses of the 50s!? Do your bridesmaids each love beach inspired sundress gowns?! Create a gown theme, within your bridal colors, that is unique to the personalities of your bridesmaids!

Wedding Theme Styles~
Is your overall wedding theme whimsical, light and airy?! Are you incorporating an antique approach to your wedding decor?! Include elements of your wedding theme into the accessories and detailing of each bridesmaids' look! This allows you to choose the same style of dress and just accessorize and style each bridesmaid differently. Choosing different jewelry or accessories, will accent each dress and compliment each bridesmaid!

Your wedding day will no doubt be a memorable one! And by highlighting each of your bridesmaids in a unique way, they will remember your efforts for years to come!

~Hues of yellow with gold and bronze~

~Cool shades of blue~

~Vintage jewelry and accessories to keep each bridesmaid unique~

~Spring is Sprouting!!~

4/18/2013

I love Spring!! Not only is it a shift from the colder temperatures of Winter, it is a reminder that change is constant and that new beginnings inevitably beckon for our attention! I happen to notice with no hesitation!

The colors of Spring can be a direct inspiration as you plan your wedding day attire and decor! And incorporating floral elements and accessories can be a chic surprise to any wedding theme.

Spring accents can range from a garden decorated reception or the bride's hidden pair of floral shoes! Adding vines throughout your reception tables and including robust, floral arrangements as your centerpieces, are a great way to pay homage to Spring on your big day. Showering your reception tables with flower petals and candles add a lovely romantic touch!

Floral beading and embellishments add a subtle hint of Spring to any wedding gown and bridesmaid's dress. Fabric flowers and beaded flowers are elements that can make any look playful!

Men's ties in flower prints and Springtime colors, continue the theme. Accessorizing with flower adorned shoes for your bridesmaids and shrugs and wraps with flower embellishments, create a beautiful living bouquet!!

Many wedding planners have created petal designs for the bride to walk through as she makes her grand entrance. These stunning displays can create a floral design or can include the initials of the bride and groom!

With the stunning display that Spring is gifting us daily (yes, even on the rainy days everything looks greener!) find amazing ways to include it into the decor and accessories to make your day memorable!!

Table decor can be accented with vines!

Flower petals add a romantic touch!

Use the colors of Spring to inspire you decor, attire, accents and bouquets!

Snow Queen!!~Faux Fur and Winter Weather Accessories~

1/31/2013

Winter weddings are beautiful!! The snow and colder temperatures are truly inspiring. Whether it is through icicles or snow topped roofs, snow is a beautiful way to romanticize a scene!

If you are planning a wedding during the winter months or in a colder destination, there are great ways to accessorize that will leave you looking breathtaking and timeless and will keep you warm!

Faux fur, tweed, velvet, wool, leather and suede are all amazing and versatile fabrics. These textiles are perfect for winter weather and can all remain lovely when used in a neutral palette!

Wraps, shrugs and jackets are all great accessories that can be made using winter weight fabrics and in the colors that will match and/or compliment your wedding gown and bridal colors! Each creates a different styled look and feel for your wedding and a fun way to include something old, new, borrowed or blue!

Faux fur is a beautiful way to keep warm! It is cost effective and can be accessorized with beautiful brooches to increase its elegance!

Choose a winter weight fabric that is neutral in color so that it can be adorned with crystals or sparkling elements that will make it pop!

New Hair Accessories in the ~Sun*Kissed Designs Hair and Body Accessories Boutique~!!

11/17/2012

New loveliness has been added to the ~Sun*Kissed Designs Hair and Body Accessories Boutique~!! The Hand Beaded Headband, Hand Beaded Floral Headscarf and the Hand Beaded Flower Headband are 3 beautiful alternatives to the traditional wedding veil! Chamberlin Photography in Stafford, VA contacted Sun*Kissed Designs for a few custom headpieces and 3 different looks were created! Check back for the images that Chamberlin Photography used the pieces in.

Intricate and unique, each piece and also be customized to incorporate your wedding colors, you favorite color or even something blue! Take a peek and then head over to the ~Sun*Kissed Designs Hair and Body Accessories Boutique~ for more detail images of each piece!!

Hand Beaded Headband. This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

Hand Beaded Floral Head Scarf. This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

Hand Beaded Flower Headband. This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

~Vintage Winter Sparkle~

11/17/2012

On November 11, 2012, Sun*Kissed Designs joined an amazing group of vendors to bring to life my vision for some Vintage Winter Sparkle!

We came together and created a photo shoot that was held at the lovely Elkridge Furnace Inn! I knew coming together with such talented artisans would produce something beautiful, but I had no idea that I was in for something simply lovely!! Check out the images below and visit these amazing vendors on their websites and Facebook pages for more updates and information! To see the complete collection of images from the photo shoot click here-------> Sun*Kissed Designs

~Participating Vendors~

Styled Wedding Photo Shoot Concept: Sun*Kissed Designs/Chantél F. Fielder

Photographer: P Squared Studios-Jen Reilly Photography/ Jen Reilly-Graves

Florist: Eight Tree Street/ Maribel Kalata

Jewelry: Peggy Jay Jewelry/Tenisha Dotstry

Gown, Ruffle Collar, Shawl and Fascinator: Sun*Kissed Designs/Chantél F. Fielder

Cake: Cakes by Rachael/Rachael Powers

Make-up and Hair: Up Do's for I Do's/Sara Lawrence

Models: Tia Beverly and Anthony Smith

Venue: The Elkridge Furnace Inn

Date of Shoot: November 11, 2012

This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Florals by EightTreeStreet. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Brooch Bouquet by EightTreeStreet. Jewelry by Peggy Jay Jewelry. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Gown, Fascinator and Ruffle Collar by Sun*Kissed Designs. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Florals by EightTreeStreet. This image is the property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Cake by Cakes by Rachael. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Bouquet by EightTreeStreet. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs

Jewelry by Peggy Jay Jewelry. Make-up and Hair by Sara Lawrence for Up Do's for I Do's. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Jewelry by Peggy Jay Jewelry. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Jeweled Shoes by Peggy Jay Jewelry. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Gown, Ruffle Collar and Beaded Shawl by Sun*Kissed Designs. Brooch Bouquet by EightTreeStreet. Jewelry by Peggy Jay Jewelry. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

Hair and Make-up by Sara Lawrence for Up Do's for I Do's. Jewelry by Peggy Jay Jewelry. Gown and Ruffle Collar Sun*Kissed Designs. Boutonnier by EightTreeStreet. This image is property of Jen Reilly Photography/ P Square Studios and Sun*Kissed Designs.

~Blueberries and Cream~

10/12/2012

Fall is amazing time to tap into the beauty of the season! One of the best things about Fall are the different smells and colors that nature extends! Apple cider and cinnamon! Maple spice and pumpkin! And Blueberries and Cream!

Blueberry is an amazing color that can be combined with even the brightest of hues. Being less stark than black, blueberry is a lighter version of navy blue and adds its own special touch to wedding decor and bridal accessories. It is a sophisticated neutral color with an edge!

Bridesmaids' dresses in blueberry can be accented with pinks, corals and greens. Sapphire jewelry can accent your wedding gown and bridal decor incorporating blueberries and cream will be a beautiful way to get away from traditional black and white themes!

Blueberries and cream can be a subtle way to bring a nautical look and feel to your wedding decor without projecting too much of a theme. By using naval colors solely for inspiration, this allows you to include other elements to your wedding decor. This color combination is strong enough to be paired with the most rustic burlaps and the most pristine silks! When paired in a country, rustic or vintage theme, it lends a touch of modernism. When paired with silks and precious metals, it accentuates classicism!

Play around with different textures of fabrics while using the same shades of blueberry and cream! This creates a depth to the overall look and feel! Be inspired this fall by blueberry and cream. Use it in color selections, decor and maybe even dessert choices...because it tastes just as good as it looks!!

Fall in Love...All Over Again~

9/11/2012

New Love, Reconnected Love, Reunited Love...it's all love! Planning a vow renewal or getting married after the first time, is an exciting process. Just because this isn't your first walk down the aisle. doesn't mean that it still can't be spectacular! Here are a few guidelines:

~To thine own self be true~
There's something wonderful about a love that stands the test of time. Love doesn't require that we get it right the first time. There are no rules! Leave the rule book behind and navigate from your soul. Let colors and textures that make you feel beautiful be the starting point for your bridal style inspiration.

~Location, Location, Location!~
Choosing a venue can be as stress free as using your own backyard or as scenic as choosing a coastal landmark! The choice is yours. Exotic locales, meaningful homesteads and eccentric turfs, all bring a touch of character to the theme of your wedding.

~Add Special Touches~
There is a story to tell with vow renewals and re-connections or even marriages for the mature couple. Share that story with your guests! Invite your attendees to walk down memory lane along side of you. Have a slide show that uses sepia and black and white images. Decorate with items that have a natural patina! Tell the story of your love, how you reunited after years of being apart, or how it was you fell in love all together...you could be the inspiration for another couple!

~Enjoy the process!~
Tragically most brides are so focused on everything being perfect and acceptable, that they miss out on enjoying the process! Engage in all of the planning. Choose dishes for the main course that you and your guests will find memorable. Have spontaneous extras during the reception! (Think theme photo booths, bridesmaids vs groomsmen prepared dance-offs, a first dance that includes all of the couples over 50 joining the bride and groom!) Think of ways to make the pictures that will fill your wedding photo album, uniquely yours! Leave in impression so that every time thoughts of your wedding come up, it will have your guests and you and your groom, Fall In Love...All Over Again!

Keep things simple!

Use vintage buckets to hold wedding favors!

Choose memorable locations!

Leave your guests inspired!

New ~Fall In Love~ Sun*Kissed Designs Sales Offers Now Available on the website!!

9/11/2012

In preparation for Fall, new sales and discounts are available on the website, www.sunkissedbridal.com! As the summer comes to a close, Sun*Kissed Designs is preparing for the Fall season by offering even more deals and discounts! Check out the highlighted sale and a few pictures of the accessories below!

Sun*Kissed Designs is now offering a selection of the hand beaded, handmade accessories through the website!!

Visit www.sunkissedbridal.com and click the Sun*Kissed Designs Veil Accessories Boutique and the Sun*Kissed Designs Hair and Body Accessories Boutique tabs under the "more" section to purchase veils, hair accessories and shrugs, collars and shawls! These accessories are also great for any special occasion! (For custom orders and to make customized requests for current products, please email chantelfrancina@sunkissedbridal.com before you place your order in case an invoice needs to be generated!)

To kick off the Fall season, from now until October 11th, 2012 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time) Receive 30% off of any accessory purchase including custom orders! (Prices have been adjusted on the website to reflect the 30% off savings. Because the Custom Accessories Orders are custom creations, please email chantelfrancina@sunkissedbridal.com your requests so that an invoice can be generated.) New products will be listed for you to Fall In Love with so shop away!!

This is a great time to get your wedding gown and/or bridal party hair and body accessories or a gift for someone special or for yourself! Each piece is made to order, so please allow 2-5 business days to create and process your accessories order. Gown orders will require fittings and the actual design and creation of your gown. Please email for further details and more information. Rush item creation and Rush Delivery are both offered, visit the "Policies" tab on the website for more information.

**If you would like something custom and need some ideas, I invite you to schedule a free consultation where I can show you each gown, veil and accessory that I offer and you can discuss with me your budget, and your vision for your wedding! This would be a great time to go over any custom design ideas, beading color changes or any thing else you can think of! My office is conveniently located at 41 State Circle Suite 5 in Historic Annapolis, MD 21401. It is open by appointment only to ensure that each client has undisturbed time to view the gowns. Or if more convenient, I can come to you, bringing the gowns or accessories your are interested and the photo albums of additional products! You can schedule a consultation through email at chantelfrancina@sunkissedbridal.com , on my website at www.sunkissedbridal.com or over the phone at (443) 803-2757.

Also check out detailed pictures of the gowns and veils on my Facebook Page Sun*Kissed Designs.

Full Length Veil. This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

Custom Hair Fascinator. This image is property of Sun*Kissed Designs.

Pottery Barn Bridal Event!!

12/23/2011

During the month of October, Sun*Kissed Designs had the pleasure of attending the Bridal Event for Pottery Barn at the Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, MD! Pottery Barn is a great place to register for your wedding gifts!! With everything from bedding and dining pieces to home decor and furniture! Simply put, Chic, Elegant, and Pretty things abound!!