There's a App for That: Tiffany & Co. Hitches Up with the iPhone

Okay, so now he really has no excuse -- Tiffany & Co. has made the ring-shopping experience officially fool-proof with their new iPhone App.

Of course, not only can you browse every ring in their selection, change the carat size, match them up with wedding bands on the screen, share them (discreetly) on Facebook, Twitter and via email...you can actually pick the perfect size by -- get this -- placing an existing ring right there on the screen. Automatically, the tool's ring sizer syncs up and spits out the perfect size.

Now, of course, when it comes to picking out a super sparkler--we always say "see it before you buy it". But if you're pressed for time, stuck in the middle of a desert (yes, I once had a groom who ordered a ring from Tiffany while deployed in Iraq), or simply afraid to set in the store...this is the ultimate way to date a ring before you marry it. I'd say it's worth the pretty little blue box, wouldn't you?

Check out this video tutorial to see the App in action:

Engagement Photo Session in Stop-Motion

tori and austin from sarah yates on Vimeo.

So, this amazing take on engagement photos has been taking the bridal blogs by storm--I first saw it on Junebug, then on Bridepop, now on our friends over at Monachetti. Needless to say, it's so cool and refreshing--and flat-out joyful!--we just had to share it with you. If your day needs a little brightening, press play.

We "LIKE" These Wedding Cookies!

Leave it to Twitter to introduce me to a sweet Facebook-inspired wedding idea! Thanks to my fellow tweeter @dognbird for sharing these adorable engagement cookies. What a cute idea for save-the-dates, favors, even for asking a bestie to become a bridesmaid.

I happen to really heart the other sweet creations by I Am Baker. From colorful cookies to innovative cupcakes to ROYGBIV (yes, rainbow) layer cake ... this girl's got something special cooking in her kitchen.

Check out her sweet ideas (but note, she's already booked through August...so get "on line"!)

Big City, Little (Yet Super-Chic) Soiree

This week, a client of ours who had been planning a far-flung destination wedding suddenly decided (well, needed) to throw an intimate stateside wedding soiree for 30 of their nearest and dearest friends...next month.


In record time, we flipped through our handy file of favorite small venues to find just the right private dining room. Available on a Saturday night in June. For a party of less than 30 people.  


And, well, let's just say bigger isn't always better. We were so excited to uncover some super special venues with delectable cuisine and divine decor. Here are three of our favorites!


La Grenouille 
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022 - (212) 752-1495


One of New York's finest french dining venues doubles as a stunningly romantic setting for a wedding. Starting at $195 a head for dinner ($75 for lunch), the private party room features a wood-burning fireplace, Juliette balconies, and high ceilings topped with a sun drenched skylight. The room was once the home of the painter Bernard Lamotte, who along with his friend Antoine de Saint Exupéry (author of "Le Petit Prince") hosted many parties with Greta Garbo, Jean Gabin and Charlie Chaplin. The bonus! Some of Manhatttan's most beautiful blooms.

Crosby Street Hotel 
79 Crosby Street New York, NY 10012 - (212) 226-6400


Located on a quiet street in the swanky Soho district of lower Manhattan, the Crosby Street Hotel is one of the hottest new hotels around (having recently jumped the pond from its famously chic location in the UK.) From $250 per person, the hotel's private dining and reception spaces can host a wedding--from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception for 10-40 guests. Their standard package includes assorted passed canapes, a gourmet three-course dinner, champagne toast to the couple, basic open bar and complete venue rental for four hours (not including tax and gratuity).

Landmarc
Time Warner Center - 10 Columbus Circle New York, NY 10019 (212) 823-6123

Located in the north tower of the Time Warner Center--home of the Mandarin Oriental and epicurean mecca Per Se-- Landmarc offers two impressive event rooms that reflect the restaurant’s unique design and comfortably delicious cuisine.  These rooms can hold two separate parties, or be combined into one large room. Guests can dine on a prix-fixe dinner that ranges in price from $75 and up, an open bar and wine poured tableside, and the restaurants downright divine desserts. It's no wonder that our clients chose this venue to celebrate their uber-chic New York nuptials.

Know any good spots to celebrate a swanky little soiree? Send your picks to Chandelier. 

Style Me Pretty!!! Lori & David's Luxe on the Farm Wedding at Blue Hill @ Stone Barns

Needless to say, we are beyond honored, thrilled, and shouting from the rafters that Style Me Pretty's Abby Larson posted the wedding we planned for LIVE! With Regis & Kelly's Lori Schulweis and her darling husband David this past October. The most elegant farm affair we've thrown to date, this wedding is bursting with beautiful details--from a color palette of beet, fig and sage brought to life by Matthew Robbins, to paper details beyond compare by Ceci New York, to music and video by an amazing team at Elan Artists,  probably the most amazing menu ever served at a wedding.

For details and gorgeous photos taken by the uber-talented Shawn O'Connell of Christian Oth Studio, check out Style Me Pretty's cover page!

These Invites Get an A+!

There seems to be a whole lot of everyone posting handmade items for weddings on Etsy these days. But some stand out from the rest! Like these Notebook Wedding Invitations by LetterBoxInk. 


Designed with high-school sweethearts in mind, these creations are not only cute and creative--they're practical, too! With so much to study these days (from hotel accommodations to directions and maps), this is one of the best ways to organize all that paper that we've ever seen.  

According to the Etsy profile, this customized play on a 'composition notebook' is sized at 5"x7" and includes 8 pages (3 full spreads and a front and back page), plus cover. RSVP postcard is tucked in the back cover for guests to remove and mail back. Comes with coordinating Mailing envelope. 


Pricing depends on the quantity desired. This invite comes in 'Flat Printing' (however, with a more generous budget,  Letter Box does offer additional printing techniques. As seen, 25 - 75 invitations come in at $11/each, and mails at .61/each. Postcard mails at .28/each.  If you want more or less invitations, please contact them directly for a more accurate quote.

Love the idea, but not your style? I will be uploading a more formal "Story Book" design soon

We Love Welcome Gifts & Guides by Melangerie NYC

The focus of our blog post today totally qualifies in the "why didn't I think of that?!" category. Meaning, when I cut up hunter green contact paper into a vine for my dorm room wall at UNC, I should've known that it could become a business as big as Blik decals!  When we spotted Elana Dweck's Melangerie NYC at the New York Magazine Wedding Event last week, we were awestruck how she built a beautiful business in these gorgeous welcome collections. 

At Chandelier, we're often tasked to create welcome gifts & itineraries for wedding guests by many of our clients. But now, brides anywhere can work closely with Elana to create welcome totes for their nearest & dearest. Here's the scoop!

Mélanges, Elana's answer to the gift basket, are a thoughtfully-curated group of items accessorized with distinct design details (and no cellophane wrap, thank you). Melangerie NYC designs personalized packaging, selects and sources the contents, and offers the final gift assembly & delivery. Matching event guides highlighting pertinent details, event locations, and your personal recommendations can also be included.


Through a complimentary meeting (either in person, via skype, or over the phone), they get a better sense of your needs and your look. They then "curate" the contents of their mélanges based on: the intention of the gift (ie: is it a welcome gift vs. a favor vs. a bridal party gift), your personality, preferences and background, the location of the wedding, and of course, budget.  Custom mélange services start at $750 for curating/sourcing contents for a 4-item gift + packaging design and a custom hang tags. Custom guides are additional and begin at $750 for 50-100 qty (including paper and printing). For full mélanges that include curation services, custom packaging and wedding guide design, and assembly the turnaround is typically 2 months from start to finish.

Finally, finished mélanges are delivered via courier to location (or locations) of the client's choosing. They can even have them delivered to specific hotels within the tri-state area for room drops. For clients outside of the New York Metro area, they can ship all of the mélange components (products, packaging, printed materials, etc.) to be assembled on site at the wedding location. They also offer this option for local clients who would like to save cost on assembly and provide easy to follow instructions with images to demonstrate how gifts should be put together to retain design authenticity.

Like 'em? Get 'em! Visit their online shop at melangerienyc.etsy.com.