Wedding Shoes and Accessories…

All women know that it’s not what you’re wearing, but your accessories that make your outfit. Do you have the right jewelry, shoes, and accessories to make your beautiful gown into a stunning masterpiece? Here are a few pointers on selecting the correct complements to your gown for your big day…


1. When it comes to jewelry, less is sometimes more. If you have a beautiful dress adorned with Swarovski crystals and beading you may want to skip the big, attention grabbing, necklace and earring set, and select a subtle single diamond drop necklace and earrings. Even though the accessories make the dress… you and your dress are still the showstoppers of your wedding. Don’t let the “extras” out shadow you.


2. Your headpieces are just as important as what you are wearing. This includes your hat, veil, tiara or barrettes, AND your hair. All of these elements have to work hand in hand and there is nothing worse than a bride wearing a beautiful gown, but has a busy head of hair and other tangled accessories. Choose the veil that fits your gown and type of ceremony. If your wedding is traditional and formal, go for the long cathedral or chapel length veil with an optional blusher. If your wedding is more modern and hip you can wear a show-stopping hairstyle with an accent hair jewel, go for a cute little pill box hat, or slip on a beaded headband with an attached short, stylish blusher. Remember you do not have to wear a veil, or anything on your head for that matter, but it is wedding tradition and many designers create dress/veil combinations that you can purchase together.


3. Keep your feet happy by choosing the right shoes. If you have a beautiful floor length gown, your shoes may not be seen by everyone, but they are still just as important. Choose stylish shoes that won’t leave you on crutches at the end of the night. Pay attention to the height as well as the thickness of the heels, the type of foot and ankle support, and the color and/or style of the shoes. If you do not wear high heels on a regular basis, this is probably not the best day to start. You will more than likely be on your feet from sunrise to sunset - getting ready, taking pictures, walking down the aisle, dancing, and greeting guests. Comfort is key to choosing your shoes, and there are many stylish shoes that are also feet friendly.


4. Last but not least, don’t forget the undergarments!! Selecting the right bra, panties, and other undergarments are just as important as choosing the right gown. Don’t wear your old worn out bra and panty set in order to save money. It is important to purchase the right support to wear under your beautiful gown. Face it, no bride wants to look in the mirror on her wedding day and see lumps and bumps, and as beautiful as your gown might be, those imperfections will take away from it!

Holiday Savings

Parties, weddings, and events during the holidays (the time between Thanksgiving and New Years) are always memorable, but did you know they can also be big money savers? Here are a few ways to stay out the red by saving green this season!

1. Save on Vendors and Venues- Wedding season usually starts in May and extends through August. Any time that is considered “off-season” can offer you considerable discounts on both venues and vendors. Even though it’s off season for weddings you may want to book in advance because many businesses and organizations like to plan annual holiday parties and your date may be taken.

2. Save on Decorating Costs- Many churches, hotels, and other venues are already decorated for the holiday season with beautiful trees, garland, lights, and ornaments. If you are already planning a “winter wonderland” wedding, you can have all the beauty without any of the work… or cost for that matter!

3. Save on the Guest List- Many family members may already be planning to travel home for the holidays and would be able to attend your wedding. The accommodations they would make to visit family could be made in time to attend your wedding. Although you are not typically responsible for that part of the cost, you will be able to have more of your family members present without additional cost or stress.

4. Save on the Florist- A big trend today is to use branches and other natural elements in your centerpieces instead of the typical flowers. What better time to find branches and pine cones than in the fall and winter times of the year. During the fall months, you can use hollowed pumpkins and gourds to hold your flowers, - colorful leaves, and pinecones to decorate the tables. During the winter months, you can use big branches with small tea lights and crystals hanging from them to provide a beautiful sparkling atmosphere.

Whatever your ideas or budget, you can have a memorable event this holiday season and Rubies & Pearls would love to assist you. And while you’re at it, you might as well plan for next season too!

~The lovely ladies of R& P

Bridesmaids NOT Bride's Maids!... Bridal Party Etiquette

After watching a marathon of WE TV's hit show “Bridezillas,” the R&P ladies decided to address the issue of bridal party etiquette. Brides and grooms get the opportunity to choose their closest friends or family members to be a part of their special day, but many of them tend to take these people for granted. The brides on the show were seen cursing their friends, calling them fat, walking all over them and pretty much treating them as slaves. Even though your bridal party members will typically honor you by hosting the bachelor and bachelorette parties and paying for their own wedding attire, they are not obligated to serve you or be your "maids". Here a few tips to help keep the level of stress between you and your bridal party to a minimum:

1. Choose someone you know will be there for you. Don't choose your unreliable, on-again-off-again friend and expect him or her to change their ways just because it is your big day. Chances are, if you could not rely on them for support before your wedding, you won’t be able to rely on them on your special day!

2. Give a lot of thought to selecting your bridesmaids. If you have a serious problem with their appearance – their weight, hair, tattoos, etc. - DO NOT antagonize them by calling them names and belittling them. That only causes tension and leads to problems. If you feel strongly about having her in your bridal party, then just accept her the way she is.

3. Be up front with your bridal party. Let them know what you expect of them if they agree to be a part of your wedding, including their financial and time commitment. Ask them to consider their amount of time off from work, the cost of their attire, shoes, jewelry and hotel stay (if they're out of town), as well as their cost for hair styling and make-up (if you do not give it as a gift to them). Also, remind them to include the cost of the bachelor/bachelorette party, if they decide to host one. Give them enough time, before your wedding, to save up money and let them know exactly how much they can expect to fork out for the big day. That way, later on down the line, there should be no confusion.

4. Remember that the members of your bridal party have their own lives. Just because they agree to be in your bridal party does not mean all of their time will be devoted to you. They may have demanding jobs, families, and other financial obligations to attend to. Be respectful of that. Also, be understanding if they are not able to attend every meeting, luncheon, party, fitting, or event you ask them to attend.

5. Be kind to your bridal party. Everybody is different with different ideas, values and obligations. There may be something you may not agree on, but as long as you address every situation with a level head and open mind everything will work itself out. Don't think you're always right just because you're the bride, because that's just not true. Love and respect your bridal party and they will help make your wedding day as special as you hoped it would be!

Our Simple and Elegant Black and White Wedding

We had the honor of being the planners for a beautiful "Black & White" Damask themed wedding on Saturday, October 17th, that was held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Richmond. The mood for the 11am ceremony was set by a VCU string quartet that played classical music as guests arrived and throughout the entire ceremony. The room was decorated with a beautiful black wrought iron arbor draped in white tulle with roses and ivy; two white Greek columns topped with a beautiful mix of white flowers (KW Flowers); and a rose petal lined aisle. The cocktail hour was held immediately following the ceremony, where an elegant black and white serpentine table with a fruit and cheese display, crab dip, and cashew chicken spring rolls with peanut sauce was set up. The bride and groom chose a special "peach tea" (they both reside in Georgia) to compliment the food.

The doors to the reception opened at 12:30 pm and the bride and groom offered their 125 guests a choice of Beef Au Poivre with Cognac Pepper Cream Sauce or Pacific Rim Salmon with a Lemon Thyme Sauce. The couple carried out their black & white theme by decorating their guests’ tables with white table linen, black napkins, black damask votives, black and white escort cards, and a damask table marker. The centerpieces, designed by KW Flowers, were an oversized brandy snifter filled with a large white floating hydrangea. The chairs were dressed with white chair covers, accented with a sophisticated black bow. Following dinner, the happy couple cut their three- tiered white buttercream cake with black fondant ribbons, prepared by Bakers Kitchen. The cake-cutting was followed by toasts, bouquet toss, garter toss, and dancing. The DJ, Donnell Robinson of Chi Dr. Productions kept the bride and groom on the dance floor all afternoon!

The reception ended at 4 pm and the bride and groom were whisked away for a "couple's only" photo shoot with their photographer, Daniel Min of Daniel Min Photography, on the beautiful cobblestones located right around the corner from the hotel. All and all it was an absolutely beautiful day. Simply elegant!

Many thanks to Cowles Wall and the amazing staff at the Omni Hotel Downtown!

Pics coming soon...

Convertible Bridesmaid Dresses

Convertible dresses are all the rage! I just finished watching an episode of WE TV’s hit show My Fair Wedding with David Tutera and he took the bridesmaids to the Two Birds dress shop in New York, to get their new dresses. Everyone is getting into this trend because it is easy, creative, and it gives your bridesmaids a dress they can wear over and over and over again.

I actually came across the idea of a convertible dress while strolling through the mall in Charlottesville one afternoon. There was a kiosk that had really pretty dresses on display. I went over to speak to the lady at the register and was amazed when she told me that it was actually one dress, made out of two pieces of fabric that you could wear almost 100 ways!
Later that week, I was flipping through a popular wedding magazine and saw an ad for what I again thought was a line of dresses that looked similar, but were not the same dress. I was floored when I saw that it was a convertible dress by Two Birds.

I immediately went to the website to look at the prices and colors available. Two Birds has a wide range of colors and ways to wrap the dresses with a style to fit each and every body type. They offer tea length ($270)and floor length ($290) dresses. There are other versions, such as the twist by Dessy and the one I found to have the largest choice in colors, Butter by Nadia. They have an amazing selection of styles, colors and fabrics. But, with all of these styles running $200+, they may cost more than what bridesmaids can afford.

On a further search, I found that Victoria's Secret has a more affordable dress coming in at around $110. If that price is still too much. Another option for the more crafty bride is a DIY convertible bridesmaids dress that you could give to the girls as their gifts. There is a simple guide making this dress at rostitchery.com that almost any bride can make in an hour or two.

In the Richmond area, you can soon find convertible bridesmaids dresses at Tiffany’s Bridal.

Happy dress hunting!

Ruby and the Lovely Ladies of R&P

Hope you had a great week! Enjoy...

The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing

We hope that you had a productive week and a restful weekend! The Rubies & Pearls team has been working double time to make sure our upcoming wedding goes off without a hitch. This is crunch time and we are so excited.

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to visit a beautiful new restaurant and event venue, The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing, located on the banks of the James River. Let us take you on a little tour.

The restaurant occupies the first floor of the newly renovated power plant, which once provided electricity to Richmond's trolley cars.

While we were on sight we had the opportunity to taste the amazing food. We were served a spinach salad with orange peppers and olives, followed by stuffed chicken marsala with red potatoes and vegetables. To top off the delicious meal we were served a shot of cheesecake with chocolate mousse and fresh berries. The service was delightful and the scenery was breathtaking.

On the third floor, The Harbourmaster Suite is available for private events of 20 to 30 guests. With floor-to-ceiling windows and incredible views of the James River and the Richmond city skyline, The Harbourmaster Suite is perfect for a small rehearsal dinner or birthday gathering.

From there, you can take a glass elevator, or a flight of beautifully sculpted stairs down to the riverside tent pavillion, a beautiful space overlooking the James that can be used for weddings, receptions, or other events.

If you are looking for a rustic space for you upcoming wedding, rehearsal dinner, or other event, or maybe just a fresh new restaurant for a night out on the town we highly recommend The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing!

The Lovely Ladies of R&P

Five Great Money Saving Tips

Welcome!...all blushing brides, handsome grooms and fellow wedding industry professionals.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing or BRAND NEW BLOG!!... Rubies & Pearls is also introducing our bi-monthly newsletter that will be filled with great information on all of the hottest trends, coolest venues, and a firsthand look into everything R&P!

With the uncertain economy, we decided to start our blog with a post on “5 great money saving tips” that can help you stick to your budget without sacrificing the elegance you are looking for on your big day.

1. Cutting corners and cutting cake- Instead of having the traditional tiered wedding cake to serve all your guests, have your baker prepare a faux cake and a sheet cake to cut at your reception. The bottom tier of your faux cake will be made of real cake for you and your groom to cut, and the rest of it will be beautifully decorated Styrofoam. The best thing is, the guests will never know!! You can also try having a smaller tiered cake and supplement it with a cookie, candy or cupcake station.

2. Digital DJ- Thanks to the wonderful world of technology, you can save money by making your own playlists on your IPOD and plugging it into the sound system at your reception site. Ask a reliable friend or family member to announce the bridal party and program your IPOD to play your lists for the different reception events (pre-reception, announcement of the bride and groom and bridal party, first dance, father-daughter dance, party time, etc.)

3. “Part-time” photographers- For those of you who don’t want tons and tons of posed pictures, consider having a photographer just to shoot those oh-so-unnatural posed pictures, and have throw-away cameras for your wedding and/or reception. Your guests will be able to take candid shots and as many or more pictures than a single photographer (just be sure to purchase cameras with 800 speed; they take clear pictures under most lighting conditions). After your wedding, have the film developed to DVD’s. You can even pick the ones you and your groom like, and have your own wedding album printed. It's as easy as that!

4. “Stick” to your floral budget- Cut back on the cost of a florist by replacing your flower-filled centerpieces with sticks (natural or spray painted in your wedding colors) or candles with smaller floral accents. You can also buy flowers in bulk and put together a simply elegant centerpiece on your own. You may want to have a florist make your wedding bouquets and boutonnieres.

5. Savvy shopping- Start early and look everywhere, not just in bridal stores and boutiques. You’ll be surprised what great deals you can find online or even in your local department stores. Shop the sale racks to save money on your dress, your bridesmaids’ dresses, and the tuxes for your “honey” and his groomsmen. Shop venues and vendors with an alternate day in mind. You can save 10% to 20% just by moving your wedding to either Friday or Sunday. And last but not least, hire a Wedding Planner! No matter how unnecessary you may think it is to hire a planner, the years of experience and knowledge of the best vendors and venues can be worth MUCH MORE than the fee you pay them.

We hope you found our first blog helpful! If you have any other questions about ways to save money while planning your wedding leave your comments and Rubies & Pearls will address them! We look forward to hearing from you and helping you make your wedding…an Occasion to Remember!


The Lovely Ladies of R&P!!