Accessorize

One of the most important parts of your wedding day fashion is your accessories! It can definitely be a balance between the style of your wedding and your dress. I am in LOVe with our florette in your hair, on a belt or paired with your veil. 

But if your looking to add something more or maybe some sparkle? You definitely have some amazing options! 

Ban.do is an amazing line of creative and adorable hairpieces. 

These classic pieces could be worn again and again!

Another LOVE of mine is Twigs and Honey. They have some bold pieces that can really make a statement on your Big day. Definitely check them out. 

What a cute garter!

Emerson Made is another great website to check out. This husband and wife team have some amazing creations that can be used many ways! 

Happy Accessorizing! 

-Quail LOVE

Style Me Pretty and Kelli Murray

The official launch of Bridal has been amazing. We have gotten lots of love from some talented bloggers and experts in the wedding field. Recently, we were featured in Style Me Pretty’s newsletter. I was so pumped that Style Me Pretty was coming out with a newsletter, let alone including us in it!  This is definitely a weekly email that I will be looking forward to. If you haven’t signed up yet you MUST! Just go and do it now, I promise you won’t regret it. 

Kelli Murray, head designer for Jedidiah Clothing and an amazing artist recently blogged about Quail Bridal as well. If you have yet to see her wedding, it’s worth going by her blog to see. But be warned you may be there a while. She made her entire stationary based on amazing drawings of her and her hubby. She has impeccable style and could totally see her wearin some Quail, we may just have to use her to model our line, since she is already hitched!

Such a fun and Personal Save the Date! Seriously LOVE her style. 

                             Isn’t she adorable?!!! 

-Quail LoVe

(Source: stylemepretty.com)

Green Wedding Shoes

A little behind with the post, but Quail Bridal was recently featured on Green Wedding Shoes! 

Jen was so sweet and since this is one of our favorites, we were honored to be featured! Go there and check it out, I am sure you will get lost in their site for hours checking out all their amazing inspiration. Seriously, what would Brides do without amazing wedding blogs? 

(Source: greenweddingshoes.com)

Lovely Bridal

On my recent trip to NY, I had the opportunity to meet with Lovely Bridal. Even if you aren’t planning a wedding, it is a must see! They are located in the cutest neighborhood in the West Village. Lanie, Cassandra and the whole team at Lovely Bridal were so sweet and we had an awesome time looking at the new Quail Bridal Collection. I loved their hands on personable approach that styles the bride from head to toe. 

                                                                A Hidden Gem!

We are so thrilled to be on these racks soon! If you are on the East Coast, Quail Bridal is not far away. We are positive that the ladies at Lovely Bridal will take care of your every need, and make you feel gorgeous on your special day!

Shower Hour, Part Deux

Greetings, dirty girls, we see you’re back again for some shower tips. In fact, you’re the crew that has returned to see how this all takes a turn for the scandalous, aren’t you? Hah. Well, let’s dive right in then, shall we? Here goes.

To begin, the QB team has hosted a round or two of “Badlibs” (the “adult” version of Madlibs) in their day (cue parental exodus/children’s naptime/earmuffs), and even with a group of sweet, extremely conservative girls (or so we thought), it has gotten a bit spicy. Okay, spicy doesn’t quite cut it. Explicit is a much more appropriate fit. It has gotten a bit explicit. You can Google “Badlibs” (but please proceed with caution) and find “romantic” stories with fill-in-the-blanks or you can even write your own (a potentially safer option). We find it imperative to mention that one should be relatively careful when announcing the game; we once deemed it “Sexy” Madlibs and the ensuing stories were out-of-this-world racy. Like, insane. But so terribly funny because it was so out of place. “Badlibs,” in whatever form, is sure to be a hoot and a holler, we guarantee.

Other activities:

•Make Your Own Cupcake: put out plain vanilla and chocolate cupcakes (or other flavors), jars of different colored frostings, and dishes of sprinkles, etc. and let your guests do it themselves. People love this and it cuts out a decent amount of work for you!

•Bridal Advice Photo Album: all you need is an empty album, blank paper, markers (and/or rubber stamps or stickers, whatever you’re into), and a Polaroid camera. Have guests get their portrait taken for their page of advice for the bride-to-be. They can decorate it however they want…anything goes. This is a fantastic keepsake for the bride and hilarious to read aloud. Trust us on this one, it is NOT to be missed.

So ladies, to wrap this all up, the recipe for an amazing bridal shower is simple: as long as you have good people, good food, and something to fill in the space between, you are bound to have a downpour to remember.

~QUAILove.

Shower Hour

You can put it off for a while, but it has to happen sooner or later…every girl has gotta have a shower! We know the task can seem daunting, but don’t get overwhelmed; with a good group of girlfriends and a clear vision, the Bridal Shower can be one of the most memorable parts of the engagement process. Seriously. We have attended/thrown numerous showers, and let us convince you—under the right circumstances, the ladies will have the absolute time of their lives! But beware, it can get a little bit…how do you say? Errrm…PG-13? Or something of that nature. Just be certain to supervise the children. Or as personal experience has taught us, if you don’t leave the kiddos at home (which we highly suggest), bring along some earmuffs. Please read on.

The Theme

The theme is a crucial component to nail down. This is completely up to you (as the possibilities are endless) and is often tied to the upcoming wedding’s color palette or the bride’s favorite colors/aesthetics/pastimes. We at QUAIL Bridal, however, suggest a good ol’ fashioned Panty Party. Interpret this in whatever way you like, but for us that means cute undies and vintage lingerie pinned on clotheslines, mason jars with beautiful fresh-cut flowers, mismatched dishware for afternoon-tea inspired treats, and a scandalous good time. We often have been known to encourage a “top-model” inspired runway show of the bride’s new collection, and this is where things might get slightly rowdy. Especially if mimosas are mixed into the equation. Things might get even rowdier when someone takes a Polaroid of said “model” with the intention of slipping it to the groom on the big day. Again, these are just suggestions.

Some other fun themes, albeit more safe/innocent:

•Yoga Shower: have your guests arrive in their cozies and have an instructor lead everyone in a fun morning or afternoon flow. This is especially fun to host outdoors if the weather is nice. Lounge around all day and offer healthy brunch-inspired fare.

•Spa Shower: why go to the spa when the spa can come to you? Have a masseuse or aesthetician bring their table and supplies to the shower and treat everyone to facials and/or massages. Serve spa-style appetizers (hummus & veggies, cucumber lemon water, salads, fruit & nuts…you get the gist).

•Co-ed Shower: these are such a blast and great when done BBQ-style. This usually makes everyone happy and the environment is comfy and casual. Burgers and beers and good times. Easy as apple pie. (Mouth now watering.

•Wine & Cheese Tasting: this one is all about the spread. If you can create a good cheese platter (don’t forget the fruit and honey), you’re set. A brown-bag taste test is also a fun game and guests can learn a bit about different varietals and their own personal palate. We have used scorecards and little pencils to rate different wines and “Hello, My Name Is” stickers (on sticks, of course) to label different cheeses. This shower is relaxing, enjoyable, and easy to put together.

What about the games, you ask? Well…stay tuned for more “brilliant” ideas from us crazies. This is the part where the earmuffs come into play; you will most certainly be glad you checked back in.

~QUAILove.

QUAIL Bridal Photo Shoot Sneak Peak!!!

Dun du du du!!! It’s the moment you’ve ALL been waiting for (insert drumroll please)…QUAIL | Bridal is launching its very…first…Bridal Collection! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

The excitement is kiiiiiiillling us!!! We can’t. Hardly. Wait. (Exhale.)

And because we are such kind, sweet, loving people, we figured we would refrain from torturing you and opted to instead share the love. So here, ladies and gentlemen, is a mere foretaste of what’s to come. Just a morsel, really. 

We hosted an incredible team of professionals for our QUAIL | Bridal Lookbook photo shoot at our Long Beach studio. We transformed the space into a paper garden of sorts and staged just about the most charming wedding you’ve ever laid eyes on. Check out the behind the scenes images below!

Michelle styling the Bride. 

Oh, just a little bit of makeup…

a couple paper flowers…

a pile or two of jewels…

a bunch of babes getting painted…

and a videographer to document it all. You know, the usual stuff.

And now for the icing on the cake…the GROOM!!! Cutting the CAAAAKE!!!

We can hardly contain ourselves and we know you can’t either. So keep your eyes peeled for the QUAIL | Bridal 2010 Lookbook!

~QUAILove.

Man of the Hour

You’ve all heard the expression, “he’s the man.” Well they were talking about Samuel Lippke. He’s the perfect combination of adventure and chic: a fashion/wedding photographer who wears a bow tie and chops his own firewood. The Man. We got to sit down and chat with this talented chap about edible Air Jordans, man-pyramids, big butts, and razor burn. We know you’re intrigued…please read on.

So, Samuel…how long have you been a photographer? How exactly did you get into this world, anyway?I’ve been a photographer for 6 years. I was brought in as an apprentice to an incredible photographer who is also my brother, Ira Lippke. He taught me everything there is to know about being a photographer and wedding professional. Of course I’ve added my own touch and spin to it, but learning from him got me started on the right foot. He’s an amazing teacher. I shot this image at his wedding.

What is your favorite thing about shooting weddings? I love sending my clients away from their wedding day with images that will last forever, that will help build their family tree and be cherished until the end of time. I love the people I meet, the clients that turn into friends. Every wedding is so incredibly different, it’s an adventure photographing different people, different settings and different lighting at every event. It never gets old and it’s incredibly challenging. 

All-time funniest wedding moment? I’ve witnessed some insane toasts from the best men, some hilarious misquotes from a minister or two. Once I was shooting a wedding in the mountains of Canada—it’s 8º outside and I’m shooting images of the guys on the frozen lake. I squat down to get a better angle and my pants completely split. I had split suit pants from the knee to my belt. The chill had made all the fabric and thread brittle on my fitted slacks…luckly my hotel room was close by and I could use my brother Ira’s spare slacks. That could have been a disaster.

Speaking of disasters, have you ever shot a wedding where someone got cold feet? If so, what on earth did you do?
Luckly I haven’t. That would be incredibly sad. I have, however, seen some cold sweats and locked knees. I have heard a story from another photographer about the couple breaking up on the wedding day. A 400K reception down the drain…I think if that ever happened I’d cry with everyone. I’m crossing my fingers that never occurs.
What are your style tips for The Groom? Don’t rent a tux. Find magazine clippings of the most stylish men at a red carpet event. Pair that with what element you are going to be in and be yourself. (City, Rural, Hot, Cold, etc.) The goal is to look good for YOUR day. I personally would invest in a Tom Ford Tux if its a city winter wedding, a good self-tie bow tie and some shoes that would make your grandfather proud. I would go with a light grey suit if it’s in the summer & I wouldn’t recommend shaving an hour before pictures. No one looks good all red-faced and razor-burnt. Give it at least a few hours. P.S. Get a good watch; you don’t want to be late to your wedding ceremony. Lose the iPhone in your pocket, your keys and any clunky wallet (that’s what groomsmen are for). Don’t let anything get in the way of you taking in the whole day for what it is, those memories will last forever… my photos will enhance that memory.

While we’re on the subject of grooms, rumor has it you had your head glued back together at a bachelor party. True or False? If true…please explain. We’re dying to know.

Haha, alright. So a group of the world’s most interesting men took to the lake for a good friend’s bachelor weekend with jet skis, a powerboat, tubes, and whatever else sounded right. Before you know it, a group of 8-10 of us are taking turns putting on a show tubing in the back of the boat. At one point, the two tubes were together and 6 of us had formed a man pyramid while being towed. As if that wasn’t enough, the transfers started and the boat kept going faster. During one of the wipeouts, a few of us got tangled up and banged heads, elbows, legs, and chins. It hurt. I came out dripping blood everywhere and a few of the guys held the cut on the top of my head together until we got to shore. Instead of going to the ER, I opted to let 3 guys play surgeon and glue my cut up. I ended up being a little bloody for a few more days, but it’s healed for good and it didn’t ruin any of the trip.

Wow. Guess we won’t be forming any floating “man-pyramids” anytime soon. Oy. Back to matters of matrimony, are there any wedding traditions you’d like to see outlawed?

Ditch the garter & bouquet toss. What’s the point anyways? The money dance is awful, also the song “We are Family” & “Brick House” should be outlawed too.

What is the weirdest cake you’ve ever shot?

Oh, the cake…so many beautiful and so many odd. The grooms’ cakes are the craziest. I’ve photographed a cake that looked like a pair of Air Jordans, even one that had a cake iPhone on the side. The wildest wedding cake was one with edible candied flowers covering the whole 4 foot-tall cake. It cost the bride & groom $9000.

Ohhh-kay. iPhone. That’s insane. Strangest wedding shoes you’ve spotted? 
I’ve seen some funky polka-dotted wedding shoes, some wild looking clunky clogs too. You can tell alot about a bride by the shoes she wears.

Wedding song most guests dig? 

Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “I Like Big Butts”; “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas; “White Wedding” by Billy Idol still gets a good reaction; Kanye’s prenup song always gets people going. It’s really a matter of what the crowd is though. “Living on a Prayer” gets almost everyone out of their seats and on the floor. Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” is a girl power song that usually sends the straight men to the bar.

Alright, wise wedding sage…words to live by? 

Live today as if tomorrow were your last day, love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, take calculated risks and never look back…unless you dropped your map.
Well, Mr. Lippke, our time together has come to a close. Final thoughts for future brides and grooms? Let your day be a reflection of who you are. Don’t be pushed around by what other people did or want you to do. It’s your day, enjoy it. Also, find a photographer, DJ, coordinator, event designer that you really mesh with. They are a big part of your day, they can make or break a lot.
I love what I do in the wedding industry, the people I work with and for, the places I’ve been and the places I’m going. I can’t wait to see what doors open in front of me and how I can get to be the best photographer possible.

In case you would like to see more of Samuel’s work, or if you somehow need further proof that he is deserving of our oh-so-coveted “Man of the Hour” crown, please feel free to peruse the images below. 

Yes, it’s quite clear. Samuel makes magic. And with that, we rest our case. 

SamuelLippke.com

~QUAILove.

Let Them Eat Cake, etc.

Hey people. Now that we successfully grossed you out last week, it’s back to the drawing board. We’re talking yummy stuff. Food. Snacks. The finer things. Ahhh, it’s good to be home on more familiar ground.

At any rate, if we’re gonna talk food, we’ve gotta talk spice. And if we’re talking spice, it bears mentioning that variety is the spice of life. This holy grail of a statement should literally settle any culinary unrest for anyone planning a wedding. For the layman, this simply means: the MORE SNACKS THE MERRIER!!! Rejoice!

And we will. Rejoice, that is. And eat whatever we want.

Note above photo. (Pretend the knife isn’t there.) The beautiful bride and her dashing husband look quite pleased at all their delectable options now, don’t they? Or maybe they’re just into each other. Whatever. All I can say is that if I was presented with such an exquisite cornucopia of desserts to choose from, I’d probably plant one on the first tuxedoed man who crossed my path. Honest. So if you too would like your wedding to morph into a giant love-fest (and please don’t take this the wrong/dangerous way), you should probably forgo the giant vanilla cake with raspberry jam filling for a more epic dessert buffet. Anything goes. 31 flavors. Go “suicide” if you want. One of everything. It is true to satisfy the inner child in us all.*

*Sidenote: if your friends love you a lot, maybe you can get them to bake their specialty pastry, cake or cookies for your dessert table. Might sound cheesy but it’s a great way to foster community by allowing your loved ones to showcase their creative capabilities by more deeply participating in this moment with you. (If they’re into it, that is, as many communities are.) We’re super into it. We like friends and sweet things—what better marriage (heh heh) of the two could you ask for?

~QUAILove.

Too Sexy for My…Dress?

So, excuse us, but we are taking a short break from all this food stuff because we were getting too overwhelmed. And a bit too hungry. Honestly. We’re changing subjects to ease the hunger pangs. Hope you don’t mind.

We now return to the superstar of this crazy thing we call “wedding”: the dress. We’ve talked about colors and traditions and blah blah, but today, we want to talk about propriety. Every bride wants to look her very best—you know, showcase her assets and all that sort of stuff. She wants to look movie-star beautiful, and dare we say…sexy. But sex appeal on the wedding day can be slightly controversial. Thus we raise the question: how sexy is too sexy?

Please. Allow us. Let the imagery do the talking.

Too sexy. Maybe she should ditch the rose.

Kind of too sexy. Dirty, even. Xtina styles. Remember when she was all orange dancing in that filthy boxing ring? That’s the vibe we’re getting.

Also duly noted, bride’s Target sheer window panel veil, bridesmaid’s satin racerback/string tie swimsuit combo dress, husband’s well-tailored suit, and the conGRADulations balloons in the distance. Man oh man. Too sexy.

This one is also a little bit too sexy. Actually, we’re offended.

Whooooah, cowgirl. Easy. We get that skin is in, but knock it off, already. Triple X. Geez.

And since you were all wondering…to veil or not to veil?

Uhhh…hope this answers your question. How could you possibly live without one? Especially when you already have the resources to make your very own in a restroom near you!

Oh, and for the record, her corset dress is maybe a bit too sexy. If only it weren’t so baggy.

~QUAILove.