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We are hard at work on our third collection, and we are so excited to show you what we have in store. We'll be shooting photos in New Jersey at the end of summer, and we'll be able to give you a sneak peak, but until then - here is look at some of the lace for the gowns to come. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Introducing the laces for our Trinity Collection - debuting at NY Market in October.

We finally have some *gorgeous* professional photos of our flirty, Penelope tea-length gown and our elegant, floor-length Belle (which is featured as a tea-length gown on our website).

Thanks so much to the photographer, Jim Hesterman; Models Cassie Brooks, Yomaira Frederico, & Nick Koester; Stylist Jennifer O'Bannon; Makeup Artist Liz Campbell; and Hair Stylist Girard DeMuro.

Penelope:

Floor-Length Belle:

Of course, all of SJ Couture's gowns are made of 100 percent silk, but in this post, I want to feature some gorgeous detail shots of our flowing, uniquely draped silk gowns. I can tell you from experience that an SJ Couture gown is the most comfortable wedding gown you will wear. Because the gowns are lined in silk charmeuse, it feels like heaven. What I love about the dresses featured today is that they have an ethereal, cloud-like quality to them. They WANT to be worn. And, trust me - after you try them on, you'll want to wear one.

Olivia

Madison

Fiona
 

Celeste

And, this final one isn't exactly flowing - but I just had to feature it because this silk looks so stunning on our model. The fit is so flattering and it falls perfectly. (Belle comes in full and tea length.)

Belle

We adore lace. We especially love unique and striking lace. Our lace gowns are ethereal, romantic, and just plain gorgeous. Let's take a closer look.

Sabrina's vintage feel is made contemporary with a beautiful circular lace that softens the gown and gives it a gorgeous texture.

 
The floral lace on Emerson gives smooth lines to a sexy, slim-fit strapless. So romantic.

Becky is such a sweet and coy gown. The beautiful and completely unique floral lace has the perfect scalloped edges and whimsical texture that make this gown one-of-a-kind.

Our Kendra gown is so swoonworthy, and it's in large part because of the classic dotted Swiss lace. So simple, so classic, and so bridal.

Finally, our newest addition to the Avant collection - and our most unique lace - we have Penelope. Not only does this geometric lace bring this vintage style into the 21st Century, but it lays gorgeously on the taupe silk taffeta.

Tulle is so bridal. When else can you pull off tulle once your ballet recital days are over? It's poofy and it's oh, so princess. That's why we love tulle.

Obviously our ballet inspired Lulu gown is a perfect manifestation of our love for tulle. The ballerina-style top fits perfectly to accentuate the torso, while the princess tulle skirt turns your sugar-plum-fairy dreams into reality. Personally, Lulu is one of my favorite dresses in our Avant collection, and it speaks for itself.

We love tulle so much that it makes a sneak appearance in a few of our other dresses as well. See if you can spot the tulle at them hemlines...

How much do you love tulle?

A nice subtle vintage hairstyle always looks classic with a vintage-inspired gown. Most vintage styles are timeless and we wanted to share some of our favorite with you.

We love the wave. It can work up or down - and with short or long hair. Here is a great shot of the vintage wave updo that isn't overdone.

Here is a great take on the wave with a short, 20s inspired style. This is a great look to pair with a tea length wedding gown.

Here is the wave look on longer hair. I love this because it's formal, but really natural. And, it looks really dramatic with the red lip color. Just stunning

For some more varied updos and down dos that are vintage inspired, check out onewed's gallery. And, if you have any favorites - please share them with us!

Nervous about giving a toast at a wedding or rehearsal dinner? Here's a great post with some tips and some suggested readings and quotes to make it a bit less intimidating!

 
Image by Katina Patriquin

 Cheers!

We just love a vintage inspired wedding. It's all in the details if you want to get the perfect amount of vintage, without overdoing it.

Here are some great websites that will help give you some unique ideas - from DIY details to perfect locations.

The first one is an adorable blog called Ruffled. Its aim is to show real vintage inspired weddings and give tips for how you can incorporate details to make your day reflect exactly the mood you want. It's got DIY ideas, a photo gallery, and much more.

Here is a shot of one of Ruffled's feature photoshoots: Photography by Alea Lovely.

The next site is called Wedding Chicks. Its got great ideas for quaint wedding details to incorporate a vintage twist.

Here is a photo of one of their feature weddings: Photography by Caitlin Thomas. I just love the ball jars, roses and doilies!

 
Finally, I found this amazing vintage inspired, backyard wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes, and all the details just made me so excited, it was hard to pick one photo to feature here. The photography is by Dana Grant Boutique Photography.

The hanging windows, eclectic tables and chairs - just everything - is gorgeous. And, this whole wedding was done on a budget! 

I hope these sites give you some great ideas for a unique, vintage inspired wedding!

I'll admit that I am a big fan of the spring/summer/fall outdoor wedding. Barefoot on the beach is just gorgeous. But, we sometimes forget how magical a winter wedding (in a cold climate!) can be. The spirit of the holiday season can really enhance the atmosphere and create a really wonderful occasion. 

Here are some of our favorite winter wedding destinations to inspire you to consider making the "most wonderful time of the year" even better!

First up is Prince Edward Island. If you love Anne of Green Gables as much as I do, you will know why this is one of our top picks. You get the best of both worlds - the beach and a gorgeous winter setting. It's like stepping into another time. Check out the photos below and the video on this website to see how stunning PEI can be in the winter.

Second up is the coast of Maine. Once again we have the beauty of the ocean within a quaint New England setting. We are biased because SJ Couture may be based in Scottsdale, AZ - but we're from New England. There is nothing like a New England Christmas. Check out Style Me Pretty for some gorgeous pictures of a coastal Maine wedding by photographer Corbin Gurkin.

Here are some of the featured photos by Corbin Gurkin:

Finally - back to Canada. Emerald Lake Lodge in the Canadian Rockies - in southeastern British Columbia. This is a destination that speaks for itself. Just gorgeous.

Here are some amazing shots from Orange Girl Photographs:

So, now you have some inspiration to plan your gorgeous winter wedding! I can't wait to see you walk down that snowy aisle in an SJ Couture gown. ;)

We are so excited to share some snapshots of our gowns in the window at Uptown Bridal & Boutique in Chandler, AZ. So, take a look and then call them to make your appointment! :)

Here are the Becky, Emerson and Kendra gowns. We love how the windows literally frame our gowns - just gorgeous! 

 Here's a close up of Becky...

And, Emerson... you can see their beautiful pink tree in the background.

 And, Kendra...

Thanks again to the wonderful ladies at Uptown Bridal & Boutique for showcasing our gowns so beautifully! We are so proud to be in such a lovely shop.