2013 wedding dress trends

As the 2012 summer wedding season is just kicking off, while we are all busy placing orders for lanterns and aisle runners, wedding dress designers have already started showing off their 2013 bridal collections… The fun just never stops !

Now that US designers have launched the party at the New York bridal fashion week and as the Spanish wedding week is about to start, one question is already on everyone’s lips : what are the 2013 wedding dress trends and what are brides going to wear next year ?

In terms of style, vintage has been on trend for 3 years now and I have to say that we have seen it, done it, enjoyed it, I think we are all ready to move on. I still love the mischevious 1950′s style that is still part of the collections with short dresses and voluminous skirts. But I have a feeling that the headline of the 2013 bridal trend will be GLAMOUR… Through the cuts, the fabrics, the crystals and the colours even, as if we were moving from the 1950′s day style to the 1950′s evening style : simple, elegant, delicate, feminine, and definitely WOW.

Cut wise, here at Et Voila ! we are quite keen on the Empire dresses. Glamourous, ultra feminine, elegant. Of course the A line is still a must as it is a shape that really highlights most figures.

Accessories are more than ever a must : sashes, crystals, tiaras and hairclips… but THE come back of the season has to be the gloves ! Either long Hollywood style or delicate tulle, after years of being old fashioned they seem to be back in the place !

       

Collections : Reem Acra, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Manuel Mota.

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A so romantic vineyards wedding venue near Bordeaux

A mid 17th century renaissance style château, the château de la Ligne once was a monastery built by Alienor d’Aquitaine, then Queen of France and Duchess of Aquitaine. It has produced beautiful wines for centuries (the first written records of wine production at Château de La Ligne date from 1874) and still does, although all the vineyards have been uprooted in 1956 following a historically severe winter in Bordeaux. But new owner Mr Terry Cross (Irish) resuscitated the vineyards with the help of Mr Gilles Pauquet and Mr Stephan Toutoundji, consultant winemakers to Château Cheval Blanc (le Grand Cru Classe in Saint-Emilion), in order to regain the high quality wine reputation the Chateau de la Ligne once had.

Wedding venue among Bordeaux vineyards 

The venue offers many architectural highlights which make it such a romatic place : built from the traditional blond limestone typical of this area in South West France, the chateau and its outside spaces offers ponds, French gardens with statues, amazing vineyards views and of course the orangery with its gothic style arched windows. This is where wedding breakfasts (up to 200) are organised, overlooking the gardens.

Wedding venue with formal gardens near St Emilion Wedding reception in the orangery of the chateau France

This venue is also quite convenient for accommodation. Self catering cottages are available to rent in the outbuildings of the chateau, offering a quiet country setting. They have beautiful views over the Château’s vineyards and gardens, as well as all the home comforts you could wish for. There also are 6 luxury bedrooms in the chateau, making it a total of 12 bedrooms for you and your dearest ones.

 Chateau de la ligne wedding venue Bordeaux

And now place to some more photos :

  

More info on the venue’s website : www.chateaudelaligne.com

Need a little hand in the planning of your wedding in France ? Call Et Voila ! Weddings, your French wedding planner in London.

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The most elegant swimwear for your honeymoon : Eres

Looking for elegant, sexy and high quality swimwear for your beach honey moon ? Eres is just the brand you are looking for !

ERES is THE swimsuit expert. It was the first brand to sell swimwear year round (the company creates one major collection of about 80 suitsuits a year) and the first to create two-piece swimsuits with different-sized tops and bottoms to reflect more realistically the female shape. It is also them who eliminated armature like underwires and padding from suit designs.

Elegant and sophisticated swimwear honeymoonFrench designer swimsuit London   Bikini honeymoon swimsuit

Thanks to two materials that are called Peau Douce and Parachute, Eres creations sculpt and support the body like no other, but also dry fast ! According to fashion critic Hilary Alexander, Eres swimsuits “are the Coco Chanel of swimsuits.”

perfect honeymoon swimsuit Luxury beach swimwear honeymoon Luxury swimwear honeymoon
In terms of the collections, ERES does not follow ephemeral trends, preferring to set its own modern, identifiable style. Its colors, motifs, and cuts are so particular, they form the brand’s signature as hallmarks recognized by connoisseurs. ERES’ precepts to enhance the body without artifice, to show regard for its architecture, to adapt to all figures and individual personalities and to combine luxury, creativity and a certain timelessness, are applied to all its collections.

Where to find ERES in London

*ERES London – 24 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU

*Harrods

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Luxury private villa for a one of a kind South of France wedding

Looking for your perfect wow wedding venue in Provence ? This stunning property in the south of France has just opened to weddings… which means they still have some weekends available for the 2012 summer season !

Only five minutes away from the village of Gordes in the heart of the Luberon, this private villa is a unique contemporary property in an exceptional location. The property sits among 6 hectares of quiet, well-preserved nature, with gorgeous views overlooking the charming 12th century village of Gordes (listed one of the most beautiful villages of France) and the Luberon mountains and their valley.

With 600 square meters of panoramic terraces, overflowing Jacuzzi and swimming pool, 12 water ponds, this venue is very well suited to couples looking for a high luxury private villa with an “at home” feel and a wow factor !

 

For your guests, the villa location offers a perfect south of France experience : local markets and restaurants, vineyards, lavender fields, bold sunshine… the area compiles the best of France all in one place. The nearest airport is only 95 km away and there is a 5* Spa hotel just 5 minutes walk from the villa… so no cars needed on the wedding day !

Organising your wedding in this one-of-a-kind venue ensures you that no other acquaintance has had the same wedding ever ! So if you are looking for a new and exclusive setting for their special day, this venue is for you.

 

For more info on this private villa for your wedding please contact Et Voila ! Weddings on contact@etvoila-weddings.com. Venue hire fee from 9,500 Euros.

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Diffuse the love on your wedding day

When it comes to the art of perfumes, many of us think about France, where some of the greatest names in the perfume industry are from.

Annick Goutal is one of these great names and one of the most renowned French perfume maker.

Annick Goutal’s secret lies in its talent for transforming emotions into fragrances. Each unique creation represents a moment of happiness, a treasured emotion, or a powerful memory connected to a significant event or a loved one. Her perfumes are authentic and have a “hand-crafted” stamp, making them so much more special than mass produced ones. This is what makes her creations so perfect for a wedding fragrance.

If you are looking for your perfect wedding perfume, go and spend some time in the lovely Annick Goutal shop in Motcomb Street (Belgravia, London). There is an Annick Goutal for all tastes, personalities and styles. From floral to musky, from fresh to woody, there are 25 unique creations to choose from with very romantic names such as GRAND AMOUR (Great Love), QUEL AMOUR (What a Love), CE SOIR OU JAMAIS (Tonight or Never) or EAU DU CIEL (Water from the Sky),…

Just smell them, try them and… diffuse the love !

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A perfect Paris wedding…

We are so pleased to share with you today the very stylish Paris wedding of Marilyn and Christophe, shot by outstanding French photographer Manuel Meszarovits.

Marilyn’s dress is just gorgeous, and we absolutely love her hairstyle. Her large ribbon tied around her updo and the little birdcage veil add to the romantism and mischievousness of her short dress. Mischievousness that we also find in a few photos, like the one in the wedding car after service… it really makes it all look like the couple had a lot of fun on their big day !

The wedding breakfast and party took place in Rambouillet, a very green area with a lovely countryside feel in the surroundings of Paris. We love the romantic photos taken there with the green fields as a background.

A chic Paris hotel for preparations, a beautiful Church for the ceremony and a lovely venue in the woods for dinner and party, this is the perfect combo for a great Paris wedding !

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Beach wedding bridal styles – Our best picks

Because a bride does not get married in the same dress whether she is celebrating her wedding in a 17th century chateau or on a beach in the cote d’azur, I asked myself what I would choose among the 2012 bridal collections depending on venues…

Of course your perfect wedding dress should be chosen depending on your taste, its make and its style, but the venue is definitely to be considered as well. For example, a very structured and modern dress is not the best fit for a barn wedding in the fields. And a short 1950′s style dress might not be the right choice for an extravagant chateau wedding… It can seem obvious but you would be surprised how sometimes brides forget to think of their venue as an element to choose their dress.

So to start these series I thought of what I would choose for a beach wedding. What dress style would I go for ? Obviously I would tend to look for fluidity and simplicity, although I would not mind a bit of lace or sparkle on a beach wedding dress, keeping the beads and sequins for a Cote d’Azur ceremony rather than a Brittany wedding.

Below are a few inspirations for your beach wedding style. But I would be interested to know : what did YOU choose for your beach wedding ?

      

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Luxury vineyard wedding venue near Bordeaux

Today we are presenting to you the Chateau Pape Clement, a very renowned wine estate set among the vineyards of the Bordeaux area.

A property of the Pope during the Middle Ages, this estate is the oldest wine estate of the area. A long time the property of the archdiocese of Bordeaux, the estate and its 80 acres of vineyards later became private. The domain has always produced and still produces today one of the finest wines of the region, with bottles selling between 80 and 180 Euros each depending on their vintage year.

The chateau welcomes private events including weddings. From 30 to 180 guests, it offers many spaces to choose from to accommodate your numbers… and style. If you are after a bit of art deco, why not organise your wedding breakfast in the Eiffel glass house with beautiful views over the gardens ? If you are looking for a more “rustic” setting, the owners give you access to the cellar of the chateau, filled with impressive wine barrels, to set up your dinner tables !

The chateau also offers 5 luxury double bedrooms for you and your closest guests.

 

Chateau Pape Clement

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lt is all in the details…

A little bit of lace here, a lovely satin bow there,… when it comes to your wedding dress, do not forget it all lies in the details. We have selected for you a few photos of little details we love… and that make all the difference between the usual dress and the wow gown !

Today we are focusing on beautiful backs. Most of the time brides pay so much attention to the front of their dress and nearly forget about what is at the back. When choosing your dress keep in mind that all your guests will have the best view on your back during ceremony ! So either it is just a little discret piece of lace or a very low back, do not hesitate to add a bit of surprise and wow factor to the back of your dress…

  

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A beautiful medieval chateau wedding in Burgundy

We are very happy to feature today a beautiful wedding shot by the lovely Paris photographer Julie Rozoy.

Nathalie and Thibaut got married in Burgundy in a stunning 12th century medieval chateau featuring formal gardens, a private chapel and breathtaking views on the surrounding vineyards.

We specially love the delicate dress with a little bow down the back, the violonists escorting the guests from the Church to the chateau and dressed in a medieval style to suit the venue, the groom’s very trendy 3 piece suit and of course Julie’s very romantic pics !

 

Our thanks to the lovely couple and this amazing photographer for sharing their photos with us !

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