Add White House Black Market to the list of mass-market retailers that have jumped into the bridal gown business. Like J. Crew, Macy’s and Target, WHBM has apparently wised up to the fact that there are plenty of brides who can’t afford a $10,000 Vera Wang. The retailer has four wedding gowns on its website (www.whitehouseblackmarket.com), priced from $348 for a polyester satin gown to $698 for one made of silk taffeta. The prettiest—the $598 Victoria—is a strapless gown of ruffled tulle, with a pleated bodice, mermaid skirt and abbreviated train. Fittingly, it comes with a black ribbon sash. White Gown Black Sash—get it?

Posted by Marybeth Bizjak on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 in Sacramento Wedding Blog Gowns | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want to really make your wedding gown pop? How about pairing it with custom-made earrings? San Francisco-based designer Vittoria d'Aste-Surcouf offers just that. Simply e-mail a photo of your dress to vdastesurcouf.com and d'Aste-Surcouf will come up with a design. Jewelry can be made in yellow gold, white gold or sterling silver and be accented with cubic zirconia, pearls, diamonds or colored stones. D'Aste-Surcouf also can custom-make earrings for your bridesmaid. Ready-to-wear earrings and bridesmaid’s charm bracelets also are available. For questions or to schedule a consultation, contact d'Aste-Surcouf at (415) 418-0247 or e-mail her at info@vdastesurcouf.com. Jewelry is available by website or starting Aug. 6, you can view and purchase some pieces at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville. d'Aste-Surcouf will be presenting her jewelry in person at the museum Aug. 6.

Posted By: Elena M. Macaluso on Thursday, July 29, 2010 in Sacramento Wedding Blog Fashion + Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0)

Good news for brides: House of Fashion has extended its 50th anniversary sale (see previous post) through Sunday, Aug. 1.

Posted by Darlena Belushin McKay on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Sacramento Wedding Blog Gowns Fashion + Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0)

Attention brides! House of Fashion’s 50th anniversary sale is in progress. Through Sunday, July 18, you can save up to 50 percent on sample bridal gowns, and mother of the bride and flower girl dresses. Choose among dresses by Amalia Carrara, Bellissima, Enzoani, Rahmanian and many other designers. Walk-ins are welcome.

House of Fashion is at 2101 J St. Call (916) 554-7440. Hours: Weekdays 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. (Wednesday until 7:45 p.m.), Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4:45 p.m.
 

Posted by Darlena Belushin McKay on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 in Sacramento Wedding Blog Gowns Fashion + Beauty | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we head into the holiday weekend, the break room table here at the magazine is loaded with goodies: sugar cookies, angel food cake and fruit salad with strawberries, blueberries and white nectarines. I tried everything. Five minutes after I finished, FatCat Scones stopped by with fresh scones. I immediately ate two. Twenty minutes later, I ate the other half someone left in the box.
 
I wish I could say stress is causing me to pig out—no, I eat like this regularly. At a ball game, I plow through nachos with extra jalapeños and go beer-to-beer with my fiancé on a regular basis. I love carne asada tacos, chili fries and Squeeze Inn burgers (with the skirt of cheese, of course). I love food, hate diets.
 
Over the past couple of months, numerous people have asked what kind of diet I’m on for the wedding. My weight hasn’t fluctuated more than five pounds over the past 15 years—why diet now? The groom fell in love with me the way I am, not a skinnier, hungrier version.
 
That being said, I do have to fit into my wedding dress so I can’t exactly GAIN weight. Joe and I will be up at my mom and step dad’s home this weekend, which means lots of great food. I guess I should limit myself to just one piece of mom’s lemon meringue pie (per night). If not, I may be living off sugar-free Jello next week.

Posted by Becki Philpott on Saturday, July 3, 2010 in Sacramento Wedding Blog Fashion + Beauty | Permalink | Comments (1)