Popular Bridal Couture Designers Pitch Wedding Dress Ideas to Bride-to-Be Penelope Cruz

As you know it's bridal fashion week and I've been all over Manhattan checking out the debuts of hot spring lines from your favorite bridal couture designers. Since I'm a celebrity wedding style fanatic, I found it only right to ask each designer I met with if they had any gowns in mind for popular celebrity brides-to-be. Actress Penelope Cruz recently got engaged to actor Javier Bardem (took about a match made in Oscar heaven), and I knew many of them would have an elegant and sexy gown in mind for her to rule the aisle in someday soon. I asked, and here's what…

designer Katerina Bocci (whose 100% made-in-America mid-west based line was just so girly and so fresh!) had to say to Penelope:



designer Beth Elis had to say to Penelope:



Stay tuned for more vlogging from Bridal Fashion Week Fall 2009.

Bridal Fashion Week is Back, Ladies!

Twice a year the best bridal designers in the business come together to showcase their new collections for all the world to ser. It’s known as Bridal Fashion Week, and every spring and fall we bring you behind the scenes looks at your favorite designers, a sneak peak at the gorgeous new gowns we spot on the runway, hot hair and accessory trends, and much, much more. This week we’re going to be video blogging, tweeting from the runways, and sharing lots of great photos. Keep coming back here all weekend long for the latest coverage.

Inside Bride-to-Be Ivanka Trump’s Wedding Registry

We recently discovered socialite Ivanka Trump and fiancé Jared Kushner’s Williams-Sonoma and Tiffany & Co. bridal registries. We’re not sure if the happy pair, who are reportedly set to marry in an Orthodox Jewish ceremony on Sunday October 25th at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ, actually went registry shopping together or not, but we are certain they have classily chic taste. Here are three of our favorite finds from their registry:

Signature Tiffany Blue Box: This classic favorite is perfect for the modern bride-to-be looking for the just the right place to stash her most cherished jewelry -- and wedding keepsakes too. $75, Tiffany & Co. Add it to your registry here.

Heritage Bundt Pan: The design of this cast-aluminum pan is based on an old German stoneware mold for backing a ring-shaped kugelhopf – you know, like a coffee cake. (We just adore the swirling shape!) $34, internet-only exclusive, Williams-Sonoma. Add it to your registry here.

Melanime Bowls Set of 4: These lightweight bowls should hold their own in any kitchen. Ideal for the klutzy cook, each has a nonslip rubber ring on its base to help keep the bowl in place. Oh, and they come in enough colors to match every kitchen palette, and they’re dishwasher safe too. $38, Williams-Sonoma exclusive. Add it to your registry here.

What's on your registry? Share your favorite picks below!

Madly in Love: Christina Hendricks' Wedding Details

Listen up fellas, it’s time to find a new star to fall for, because AMC vixen Christina Hendricks is officially off the market! The lovely Mad Men star wed actor fiancé Geoffrey Arend at II Buco restaurant in New York on October 11, reports People.com. The couple announced their engagement earlier this year after being set up by one of Christina’s co-stars. When the couple said their “I dos” they exchanged matching Tacori platinum wedding bands. When they were picking them out, they said, “Look, they talk to each other. They’re friends.” How precious!

The bride wore a Carolina Herrera strapless ivory fils coupe gown and a long veil with lace trim. “It was the first one I tried on and it was magnificent,” Hendricks has said about her gown. Arend wore a brown three-piece suit with a blue shirt (with a white collar) and a paisley tie -- so vintage chic! These two are clearly meant to be. When asked about her groom prior to their wedding Hendricks said: “He's considerate, he's thoughtful, he's smart, he takes care of me. He's very, very giving.” A big congrats to the happy couple!

To get a sneak peek inside the lovebirds’ stylish kitchen registry here.

-- Katerina Gkionis

Photo: Smtmn/Flynet

The Office Wedding Fashion Revealed: Chic and Affordable Style We Love

Get Pam’s Bridal Style
Last night fans of The Office watched in awe as sweet and innocent secretary Pam and goofy good-intentioned manager Jim finally made it official at Niagra Falls. It was by far one of the best moments in the show’s history (tell me you didn’t love that spoof on the now infamous Chris Brown ceremony dance?), and one of the most stylish too! The entire office came out in their Saturday best to support the lovable couple, and the bride and groom were a picture of wedding day perfection. (Cut tie and ripped veil included!) If you loved Pam’s gown, it’s made by Galina and you can find it at David’s Bridal for just under $400. Though it hid Pam’s 5-month bump quite well, I’m convinced a gown this sweet and simple will look great on any bride, preggers or not.

The Bridesmaid Dresses: The Girls Will Wear Them Again (I did!)

The lovely lilac chiffon bridesmaid gowns that Pam’s oh-so-wacky bridesmaids wore on the big day were also from David’s Bridal. (Get ‘em here in almost every color under the sun for $145.) To keep them happy, you’ll want to pick a dress your bridesmaids can and will want to wear again. This is usually easier said than done. The gowns looked mighty familiar to me as I watched, and then it hit me. It was the cocktail length version of one I’d worn to a friend’s wedding just one year ago, and happily repeated during a formal night on a recent cruise vacation. So, I’m here to tell you, first hand, that if you go with this gown it’s a win-win for everybody, promise. (Small world, huh?) Do you think I look like a bridesmaid on my cruise? I felt rather stunning that night, myself. Weigh in below!

Celebrity Wedding Round-Up: Mr. Big Commits in Real Life too and Juliet Finds Her Romeo

Just Engaged!
Mr. Big is finally settling down in real-life girls! Chris Noth, 54, announced his engagement to 27-year old actress Tara Wilson on Monday, reports Eonline.com. The couple met while she was working at his New York bar, The Cutting Room. How very ‘George Clooney’ of him, no?

Former Melrose Place hunk Andrew Shue and Today Show (also Miss Georgia 1995) anchor Amy Robach are now engaged after being set up by friends, reports NYPost.com. Shue and Robach were both separated from their spouses for a year before they met in the spring. Cheers to finding love again!

Just Married!
Romeo and Juliet star Claire Danes found her own real-life Romeo in dreamy, British actor Hugh Dancy. The pair wed in an very hush-hush ceremony in France two weeks ago, HelloMagazine.com reports. Though the couple has always been very quiet about their romance, Claire told Blackbook mag in August, “He’s such a cutie patootie. Sometimes I forget just how good-looking he is.” (“Cutie-patootie”!?!? I love it!)

Talk about a large guest-list! Rock-folk singer Lucinda Williams wed boyfriend/manager Tom Overby in front of 1,500 of her friends, family, and fans at First Avenue, a music club in Minneapolis, on Friday, September 21. Dressed in knee-high black boots and a short black satin dress, Lucinda serenaded the groom with a song she wrote for him after they shared their vows and first kiss as husband and wife on stage.

Gushing about his wife and their wedding to People.com, 3 Doors Down leading man, Brad Arnold wed a childhood friend, horseback rider, Jennifer Sanderford on Saturday, September 12. Arnold proposed to his wife while singing her a song with the last line as “Will you be my wife?”. Precious!

If you’re still coping with David Beckham being off the market, you should know that now another sexy L.A. Galaxy soccer star is officially taken. Three-time U.S. World Cup soccer player Cobi Jones scored the winning goal on September 12 when he married his longtime girlfriend Kim Reese. Jones and the groomsmen wore custom-made Joseph Abboud tuxedos with their nicknames on the inside pockets (love that idea!) while Reese wore a gown by Jim Hjelm. Personal while very chic—great play, Jones.

Did I miss a Hollywood “I Do” you’d like to shout out? Share it below!

-- Katerina Gkionis

We Tried the Hottest Bridal Hair and Skin Trends Out There for YOU!

It’s not every day that you get to have as much fun “working” as our Photo Editor Jen DeRose and I did this week. After hearing over and over (and over!) again how much the stars love and trust the classic bouffant updo and a refreshing oxygen facial when they’re preparing to walk the red carpet, we decided to try them out to see if they'd be ideal for brides too. We phoned our dear friend Ricardo Rojas, one of the world’s leading celebrity hairstylists, who recently styled our Dream Wedding winners Van and Eric, to see if he’d let us pay his fabulous new studio a visit and try out these hot beauty trends. He’s worked with famous beauties like Mariah Carey, Gisele Bundchen, Salma Hayek and Kate Moss to help them look amazing when it matters most, so Jen and I were so psyched to spend a little time getting pampered in his chair.

That morning, we arrived at his chic loft space and settled into a private room with gorgeous vintage mirrors and accents, airy blue walls, and smooth 20s jazz tunes on rotation. It was like we’d stepped back into a 1920s dressing room fit for royalty. (The space is perfect for private bridal prep parties or for you, your mom, and his mom, to bond and get beautiful the morning of the big day.)

Jen’s Vintage Hair Dreams Come True
Jen’s fabulous hair makeover was up first. Vintage anything is huge in wedding right now, so she came in hoping for a classic era ‘do. Rojas used a large curling iron to curl Jen’s hair into sections, then pinned them neatly to set the curl. After pulling apart the curls, he worked his magic and turned her sexy curls into an elegant updo that was so camera-ready. “I feel like a movie star,” squealed Jen, who was hoping to channel Kate Winslet’s classic awards style. “It’s exactly what I hoped for, and it didn’t take Ricardo long to create the look.”

My Refreshing Oxygen Facial
I love to wear pretty makeup to get all dressed up, but I hate to need to wear makeup to look my best. When I’ve had a long, exhausting night (sort of like you would if your bachelorette party was the night before your wedding) my face wears all the memories the next morning. Ricardo told me that just one oxygen facial would give my skin new life and a stunning glow -- instantly! First you cleanse your face to clean out and open up your pours. Next, a machine is used to blast oxygen into your face. (Madonna’s a huge fan of the procedure!) The oxygen has so many benefits. It helps to treat acne, calms inflammation, kills bacteria, and even drives vitamins and antioxidants into the skin – leaving your face looking instantly more alive and healthy. (Check out my before and after!) And as you can see, I’m not even wearing any makeup. This facial is a great way to prep your skin for wedding-day makeup, and the best part is, you won’t need as much. Looking how much more even my skin tone looks.

To book a bridal event with Rojas, please contact Jim Mannino at Jim@RicardoRojasHair.com or call 917-543-0087. For appointments in his New York City studio call 212-721-5900. We can’t wait for our next visit!

photos: Jen DeRose and Charli Penn

Celebrity First Dance Song Picks: What Will Yours Be?

At a wedding people always wonder which song the couple picked for their once-in-a-lifetime first dance. Will it be a slow, country ballad, or a funky, chart topping hit? Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom chose to cut a rug to British singer Adele’s smooth ballad “Make You Feel My Love” at their recent outdoor wedding while Jaime Pressly and Simran Singh chose Anita Baker’s classic “Angel” for their first dance as husband and wife. It inspired me to want to pick a few potential tunes for my own big day. Here are a few faves that came to mind:
1. “Speechless” -- Michael Jackson, Invincible
The King of Pop’s latest ballad is soft, soothing and perfect for the oh-so-special moment.

2. “Somebody to Love”-- Queen, A Day at the Races
The cast of the new Fox show Glee redid this 1976 Queen hit last week.

3. “I Want to Know What Love Is”-- Mariah Carey The Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Iconic diva Mariah Carey is back with her sweet cover of this classic hit. It’s sure to be a real tearjerker with a smooth melody.

4. “Only You Can Love Me This Way”-- Keith Urban, Defying Gravity
Coming in 4th place on country charts this week, Keith Urban’s hit will remind you of the person you cannot live without.

Do you have a childhood favorite that you want to play at your wedding, or are you waiting for to hear the perfect song and you’ll both just know? Choices, choices -- tell us about yours below!

-- Katerina Gkionis

Sexy Celeb-Inspired Fall Looks for Your Bridesmaids

Recent brides Khloe Kardashian and Jaime Pressly both wed last weekend in beautiful outdoor ceremonies, and consequently forced top bridal designers to whip up their fabulous wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses in a very short amount of time (we’re talking under a week for the Kardashian clan). Not every bride will have the connections (or the cash) to make bridal magic like this happen, but she can ensure that she and her girls can look just as fabulous. We found sexy look-alike gowns to match Kardashian and Pressly’s wedding style picks that your maids will actually want to wear -- promise!

Get Khloe Kardashian’s Maid of Honor Dress Style




This gorgeous sweep-train gown from Alfred Angelo channels the sexy elegance of Kourtney Kardashian’s Vera Wang dress (shown here!), and includes the same ‘V’ neckline and mermaid silhouette. We think a deep rich purple like this one is perfect for an elegant fall or winter wedding, don’t you?

Get Jaime Pressly’s Bridesmaid Dress Style




These sassy look-alike styles from Melissa Sweet are similar to the dresses Pressley chose for her bridesmaids, and real show-stoppers. On the right, you have a silk charmeuse long one-shouldered empire gown in mint julep, and next to it isa sexy more detailed alternative – don’t you just love the cascading fabric and flower detailing on this silk organza gown? Ladies, this is how you really up the glitz and glam factor for your wedding.

-- Katerina Gkionis



Photos: Flynet Pictures, Priscilla of Boston, and Alfred Angelo