Love how the bride's shoes match the moody blue sky on Mt. Hood. Wait, are they wearing matching Chucks??? Angela's wedding at Timberline Lodge. The bride wore Giselle.

 

Gorgeous Naomi (and dashing Alastair) at their Melbourne, Australia wedding. The bride wore Oysters & Pearls (with a fetching customized sleeve).

A dress, a dream, a designer:

When I first met her (8...9 years ago?) Phaedra was my server at a candlelit restaurant in Portland's Pearl District. But really she was (and is!) a budding bridal dress designer, with a penchant for gamine necklines and billows of tulle. She has long since flown to New York to try her fortunes there, but we keep in touch, as sisters in bridal design should (the dear girl has even rummaged through the Garment District for a very particular olive-gold velvet ribbon I needed). Now, after years of honing her skills with custom and one-of-a-kind design, she's preparing to produce her very own bridal gown collection! I couldn't be more excited, and I urge you to join me in supporting her venture on Kickstarter. If her backers' support amounts to $5000 by the time the pledge period ends, she'll receive matching funds to produce her line and lookbook. Special benefits are conferred at each pledge level (I can't wait to find out what dress is named after me).

 

Lovely Cynthia, married guess where in October. The bride wore Persuasion.

Whidbey Island wedding

Photographer Julie Harmsen forwarded me these pretty, pretty photos of Sarah and Hunter's wedding on windswept Whidbey Island. The rustic maritime location is such a sweet setting for her Oysters & Pearls gown.

{love this last one -- hurrah for the bride who's unafraid to rock the red wine}

Dear photos from Tasha's wedding at the Cornelius Pass octagonal barn. Her dress was a labor of love and I really did love making it...the perfect project for the patient days of winter. On a damp, dark January morning early this year, I began collaging together dozens of bits of hundred-year-old lace, stitching them one by one over a floating layer of tea-dyed silk organza. A truly handmade dress for a special girl. Thanks, Tasha.

...that looks on Tempests and is never shaken...

Photos: Jessica Hill Photography

San Francisco's moody skies and blustery breezes matched Suzy's Tempest gown perfectly. The reception was at the spectacular Shell Dance Orchid Garden in Pacifica. Best wishes, Suzy and Evan.

Pamela in Honeychurch.

Photos: Aaron Almendral

Isn't she stunning? Pamela's finger waves, red lipstick, and dainty gloves are right out of the 1930s--perfect for a brickwork-and-bridges New York wedding (the couple now lives in Zurich).

Neet!

I've been hearing such great things about Neet Magazine, so I was thrilled to be included in Jen McCabe's roundup of independent designers.

L'amour en gris.

Photos: Les Amis Photography

Sweet and stylish Erika wore a customized (oyster grey!) version of my Honeychurch gown. The dashing couple married at Benachi House & Gardens in New Orleans. Quelle belle dame.

BIG hearts.

 Where do I start? With the heart.

 When it comes to DIY drama, these streamers may be my all-time fave.

 You can stand under my umbrella.

Grey ladies in wellies. As you can tell, I cannot get enough of this wedding. Big hearts (and unicorns, and fuzzy baby bunnies) to stylish couple Kathryn and Jeffrey (the bride wore Giselle).

All photos: Green Chair Studio

I do love a bicycle at a wedding.

Alivia's August wedding was recently featured on the Martha Stewart Weddings website. The bride wore Honeychurch.

My favorite things: the sunny bouquets, the bike (of course) and the yellow bridal party dresses--each is so individual! View the complete photo gallery here.

A New England autumn wedding.

Photos: Robert Sukrachand

So many lovely touches (and so much love!) at Sarah and Joe's autumn wedding in Connecticut. The bride wore Oysters & Pearls. You can see more gorgeous photos (some of gourds) here and here.

Fall crush.

Photo: Patrick A. Wilson

This is my favorite photo from the set Amber sent over from her wedding. I customized her dress by embellishing the bodice all over with antique lace flowers and appliqués. I love how the delicacy of the lace is punched up by all those gothic grape and berry tones, the luscious fall flowers, and her va-va-voom lipstick. Spin that color wheel, o Brides of 2012. There is life beyond Blush and Bashful.

2012 BRIDAL COLLECTION

 For Emily. Silk shantung, chantilly lace illusion bodice, tulle skirt overlay.
Velvet ribbon waist detail with silk organza flower.

Beatrix. Gold embroidered blossom tulle over duchess satin.

Keepsake. French Chantilly lace gown with scoop back, ruffle neckline.

Circa. Silk shantung with silk organza circle skirt overlay.
Linen ribbon waist detail, double blossom corsage.
Also available full length.

Giselle. Silk shantung, English tulle skirt overlay, Alençon lace waist d

etail.

Honeychurch. Silk charmeuse with chantilly lace bodice, lace flutter sleeves, tulle skirt overlay.

Musette. Alençon lace dropped waist bodice, silk chiffon tea length skirt, ribbon sash.

Oysters & Pearls. Alençon lace bodice with hand applied chiffon details and vintage pearl beading, silk chiffon skirt.
Also available knee length.

Paperwhite. Lace embroidered tulle tiers over silk/cotton.

Paperwhite gown. Lace embroidered tulle tiers over silk/cotton.
Ruched bodice detail and gathered tulle cap sleeves.

Persuasion. Silk shantung with English tulle skirt overlay, Alençon lace empire waist detail.

Tempest. Grey cotton satin bodice, English tulle skirt overlay. Velvet ribbon waist detail, silk organza flower corsage.

credits.
Photos: Lisa Warninger
Makeup: Katy Simmons
Model: Ashley Anthony

A very special project.

Photos: Greg Pacek

Kristina is a lovely lady from Toronto who brought to me a family heirloom wedding dress from the early years of the 20th century. Though the dress itself wasn't quite wearable, it was decorated with some exquisite chantilly lace--the kind you just can't get anymore--in a perfect shade of mellow antique ivory. The dress also featured a sweet pearly beaded trim, stitched by careful hands almost a hundred years ago (you can see it making an appearance at the waistband of Kristina's dress). Making the most of two in-person meetings (one in San Francisco, one in Portland), Kristina and I collaborated on the dress you see. I used almost every inch of the original lace to embellish the bodice and an underlayer of the skirt--the smallest scraps were fashioned into flowers with lace and silk organza petals, which were appliquéd on the bodice. The skirt is organza and tulle over silk shantung--the gauzy layers helping to harmonize old and new materials. I truly loved working on this dress, and she wears it beautifully. Thanks, Kristina, and best wishes.