David's Bridal

Melissa Sweet Valentine’s Day: A Dream Marriage Proposal

By Sarah Pease

Style MS251002

It’s Valentine’s Day!  In honor of a day dedicated to love and happiness, I’ve designed a proposal for this incredible Melissa Sweet gown inspired by everything sweet.

Start by securing the use of a picture-perfect bakery for your backdrop…something to evoke the feelings of white picket fences, pastel colors and gingerbread-style houses.  Arrange a special “decoy” plan on Valentine’s Day – perhaps on your way to dinner reservations, you suggest stopping at her favorite bakery for a treat.  As you approach the bakery, something looks a bit different.  Instead of the typical outdoor fluorescent lighting the entire bakery is illuminated with candles.  You step through the doorway, barely hearing the jingle of the door chime in the background because as you make your way inside the sounds of a European-style accordion float through the air, just like the music found on a French street corner in the movie Amelie or Chocolat.

Your noses are tickled with the smell of fresh-baked cookies and as you stroll around the shop, you realize that each of the display cases are filled to the brim with her favorite sweets and treats.  Delicate heart-shaped sugar cookies decorated to look like the white lace in the Melissa Sweet gown alongside hand-made sugar flower roses in various shades of creams and ivories, and finally a delicately ruffled cake perfectly presented in the middle of a tiny bistro table in the center of the room.  As you approach the cake, it’s flanked by life size white trellises covered from top to toe with hanging vines and soft ivory blooms.  Next to the cake is a sterling silver cake cutting set engraved with the words “Will You Marry Me?”

Just like the Melissa Sweet gown, this marriage proposal idea is the perfect concept for someone who appreciates the sweetness of life and love and forever wants to remember their Valentine’s Day as the day they were engaged!

Sarah Pease, The Proposal Planner ™ is recognized as the foremost expert on marriage proposals and is the pioneer of Marriage Proposal Planning. Based in New York City, Sarah and her team at Brilliant Event Planning have designed and produced dream engagements for countless lucky couples from across the world and are the go-to source for all things regarding “Will You Marry Me?”

Credits for collage:

Cookies

Bakery

Accordion

Cake

Cake cutter

BE MONOCHROME VALENTINE!

Hey DB Readers! Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner (TOMORROW!) I’m sure some of you are in a pickle about what to wear on a big date! Well have no fear, Nikki Pennie is here! Nikki is our go-to Style Council member for anything fashion related!

If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s Day dress, David’s Bridal has a variety of dresses that can fit any girl’s style no matter the color, length or occasion you’re looking for!  Nikki recently went to one of our stores and picked up a great white lace dress with an exposed zipper and put her own “Nikki Pennie edge” on it!

Check out her chic outfit below, and for more fashion inspiration, check out Nikki’s blog here!

Good Morning DB Readers and Happy Wedding Wednesday!  Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic days of the year with almost 10% of engagements happening on that day… and that day is TOMORROW! If you are a bride to be and are looking for wedding planning tips, we have the top 5 wedding trends for 2013!  They are…..

1: Have fun with food! If you’re looking to do something funky, think of your favorite date night restaurants, family dinners and foods you crave when you are happiest!

2: Emerald green- Pantone’s color of the year is going to be everywhere in weddings and we couldn’t love it more. Pair it with golds and creamy whites!

3: 1920s-inspired fashion- Mimick the popular TV show ‘Downton Abbey’ and put a focus on the stunning silhouettes of the era as well as gorgeous champagne cocktails, oyster bars, jazz bands and beautiful headpieces.

4: Sexy/demure- Alternative necklines, cap sleeves and three quarter length sleeves leave a sense of sultry with brides right now!

5: Individual style. Weddings are becoming much more about the individuals behind them rather than the tradition as a whole.  Say goodbye to matched styles and predictable venues and hello to layerse of color and alternative spaces such as restaurants and ranches.

V-Day With Your Fiancée: 5 Frugal & Romantic Date Ideas
BY CATEY HILL

Of course, you want to make this Valentine’s Day special — it’s your first as an engaged couple! — but with all the things you need to spend money on for your wedding, you don’t want to break the bank. Here are some fun but frugal Valentine’s Day date ideas that are sure to make this day one to remember.

1. Make a memory box
Pretty soon, you’ll be a married missus, with photos and keepsakes from your wedding lining your home. But it’s important to remember what brought you two here — where you met, memorable dates, the proposal. So before Valentine’s Day, both of you should gather memorabilia from your time together (everything from receipts and concert tickets to dried flowers and photos); during the date, you’ll each put your items one by one into a beautiful memory box, telling each other the significance of the event and how it made you feel. Here is a great memory box from David’s Bridal that would make a perfect gift! Then promise each other you’ll open this box to keep the romance alive every Valentine’s Day.

2. Whisk him away on the cheap
I love the app HotelTonight.  You can find amazing last-minute deals on usually pricey hotel rooms. (The hotels put the deals on the site the day of the deal since they realize they might not fill the room otherwise.)  Wake up early on Valentine’s Day morning and see if the site is offering any deals in your city.  If they are, book a room and keep the details a secret from your man.  This is a great way to get away from it all without having to travel anywhere!

3. Play the question game
You may feel like you know almost everything there is to know about your partner, but there are certainly surprises to come!  That’s what I love about the question game.  Write down a series of questions, things like: What’s the one trip you’ve always dreamed of taking?  What is one thing you want to do before you die?  What was your most embarrassing moment?  On what day were you happiest?  Then take turns asking and answering.  Consider writing down the answers and saving them — it will be fun to look back at these things years from now to see if anything has changed.

4. Have your first date — again
Assuming your first date wasn’t something crazy expensive, recreate it.  Even if you two just met at a Starbucks and grabbed coffee or went to the movies at your local theater, it will be so romantic to relive all the moments from where it all began. And in case you need something to wear on the big night, David’s Bridal has a great selection of special occasion dresses that are perfect to relive your first date with your significant other!

5. Take the day off together
Unfortunately V-Day is on a Thursday this year — and it’s hard to celebrate when you’re tired out from work.  So have a staycation in your home with your soon-to-be hubby.  Rent a bunch of movies, curl up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and relax.  It’s all about spending quality time with each other.  Come evening, you two can cook dinner together and share your meal over a bottle of wine.  Don’t worry about work until tomorrow!

Sweetheart Style
by Nicole Brewer

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, but it’s not too late to find the perfect outfit to celebrate the day. Flowers and chocolates? Maybe. High heels and a fabulous dress? Definitely!

This much-fussed-about holiday is all about passionate self-expression. And fashionistas know that it’s all about flaunting your own sexy style! So, whether you’re getting dressed for a hot date or having cocktails with the girls, just remember that romance is all in the details.

Eye-catching necklines, romantic ruffles, bold colors and the right amount of bling is all you really need to stand out in a crowd.

You can’t go wrong with an interesting neckline in a rich jewel tone color.

But a cute new accessory could be all you need to put the finishing touches on your sweetheart style.

These girly peep-toes are perfect with jeans and a fun top, but they can also spice up anything basic like a black dress or pant suit.

Never underestimate the power of pink! If you’re only in the mood for a splash of color, this romantic accessory is it!

A subtle flower on the side of a sleek up-do can be elegant and alluring. And if you’ve never worn a flower in your hair, V-Day is the perfect day to go for it!

Get creative with a vintage inspired sash and add a touch of waist-cinching shimmer.

Looking sizzling hot for Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean wearing red. In fact, head-to-toe looks in all red may be passé and a bit overwhelming. But if you love the hot hue like I do, go for it in all its variations from neon pinks to magical magentas or regal reds. Just opt for simple, neutral accessories-they’ll look sophisticated alongside bold colors.