How do you properly put on your rings?

It's that time of year again, engagement season is upon us. With that sparkly new diamond you want to make sure you take proper care of it from day one, especially when you are showing it to so many people! Just imagine one tiny smudge that could ruin the sparkle and shine. Laura went over to her husband's shop, Measetique Jewels, to demonstrate just how to properly put on your engagement ring, or other rings with gemstones and diamonds.

Just follow these steps and maintain proper cleanings and your rings will keep on sparkling!

-Elise

ps Congratulations to all the newly engaged brides!

LUXE Wedding Showcase Vendor: Mink Artistry

Lights, Camera, Action! Okay, okay, so you might not be on a film set, however, on your wedding day you have to be ready for your close up! How do you avoid those last minute worries of, "What if my face breaks out or we run out of bobby pins for the up-dos!?" It's simple, you hire the professionals. Planning a wedding in Kansas City? Look no further than the artists at Mink Artistry. Katie Snustead, owner, and her team of experts accentuate your natural beauty and make sure that you are camera ready all day long!

Today I had the pleasure of catching up with my friend Katie to learn a bit more about Mink Artistry and why she recommends every bride has an artist complete their bridal hair and makeup.

Q: Why is it important to hire an artist for hair and makeup?
A: To outsource worry! There is a peace of mind for brides when they know that someone else has that covered.

Q: What is one of your favorite parts of helping brides on their wedding day?
A: Watching the stress literally melt away as they [brides] get closer and closer to being ready to go and they realize it's all coming together effortlessly on her part!

Q: Is it important to find an artist with wedding experience?
A: Yes! Your stylist will work well under pressure if things aren't going exactly according to plan if she has some weddings under her belt.

Q: How should brides get their "look" across to their artist?
A: It's crucial to find an artist you communicate well with. We tend to speak our own language. For instance, if you ask your hairstylist for a trim and she cuts off an inch of length! Or if you ask for subtle eye makeup and your artist gives you an  "Old Hollywood" look with winged liner, her version of subtle, you might feel too "costume-y".

Q: How do you avoid the communication mix up?
A: Always, always have a trial run. Do it far enough in advance to have time to come up with Plan B, if needed. This might entail simply having another trial with the same artist, or with another artist on the team, or possibly even a new vendor altogether!

Q: When should brides start booking your team?
A: As with any professional wedding vendor, I recommend scheduling your artist 9-12 months in advance. However, this fall I scheduled 4 weddings for brides who met with the artist they scheduled and they weren't pleased, so they called to book me last minute. Since there was still a few weeks notice I was able to make adjustments to my schedule and accommodate them. 9 to 12 months is best though!

Q: Why do I need that much time to book an artist?
A: You are more likely to secure an "in demand" artist and you'll also have lead time to talk about proper pre-wedding care. Such as when the best time ti get trims and highlights will be, any skin concerns for your daily regimen can also be addressed. In addition, this allows multiple opportunities to build rapport with your artist, which will help her understand your personal style better.

"All of these things will help your artist achieve the perfect look for you!" -Katie Snustead, Mink Artistry

To view more work by Mink Artistry visit 

Mink Artistry

LUXE Wedding Showcase

or find us on Facebook!

-Elise

Bridal Styling: Pantone's Color of the Year 2013

I wonder will we see more destination weddings in Ireland (The Emerald Isle), bridesmaids dressed in Monique Lhuillier's clover green, or fresh floral arrangements filled with shades of green in 2013? Why would I wonder this? Well, it's official, Pantone has announced emerald as their Color of the Year for 2013.

How will you incorporate the shade into your wedding, will it be your shoes or possibly the detail on your cake? We've scoured the Pinterest board for a bit of color fun!

-Elise

Winter Wonderland Wedding

Are you dreaming of a winter wedding wonderland? Full of twinkling stars, sparkling snowfall and a fairy tale evening of winter white? Around the holiday it's easy to get stressed with Christmas plans and finalizing wedding details, so take a moment and relax and maybe you'll be able to cross an item off your ever growing to do list!

Grab your bridesmaids for some old fashioned cookie making! These sweet treats can even double as favors for the rehearsal dinner!

My friend Natalie and I whipped these together the other night and she said "this recipe won me over; easiest dough to work with ever!" And I have to admit they taste good, too.

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter

1 8oz package of cream cheese

1.5 cups white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

3.5 cups white flour

1 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 370.

Mix (by hand or stand mixer) butter and cream cheese until well combined.

Add sugar- mix until smooth

Add egg, vanilla and almond extract

Beat well

In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking powder.

Add to cheese mixture and beat until well mixed.

Divide batter and cover.

Chill in refrigerator.

Roll dough and cut using cookie cutters.

Bake 12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet.

Tip for cookie cutting: Dip cookie cutters in flour so that the cookies will come out and hold their shapes.

THEIA wedding dress, add a little fur for a festive winter style

Wedding Hair and Makeup with Mink Artistry

If you have been searching through the millions of wedding hairstyles and make up ideas on Pinterest you are not alone. Millions of brides spend their lunch breaks surfing the online pinboard. But how do you know exactly what style will look good on you for your wedding? The time has come to close the Pinterest tab and look for the professional in your area!

Hair stylist and makeup artist, Katie Snustead, owner of Mink Artistry in Kansas City, weighs in on the importance of having a professional bring out your best on your wedding.

"I think it's important to hire an artist for hair and make up for the same reason you hire any wedding professional...to outsource worry! There's a peace of mind for brides that comes with knowing that someone else has 'that' covered and they don't have to worry about it."

To save you some time, we combed through the Pinterest boards to find our favorite wedding style looks!

'Like' Mink Artistry to stay up to date on Katie and her teams work!
You can also contact through the LUXE Wedding Showcase

-Elise

Victoria Nicole Wedding Dress Event

Feminine details have floated into our shop as we have the pleasure of hosting a Victoria Nicole Wedding Dress Event for our Kansas City brides! Take a peek at a few of the line's offerings.

Laura was able to stop and see the collection on her recent trip to New York Bridal Market, while she was there she was even able to meet the designer!

Gowns available for a limited time, make your reservation today, 913.631.3010.

Lea-Ann Belter Wedding Dresses

The latest Lea-Ann Belter wedding dress collection is now online! Wedding Wire takes you to the runway to see the entire collection, along with an interview with Lea-Ann. She started in the wedding dress industry right out of fashion school and has been designing wedding dresses ever since. Her first being for her sister-in-law!

A self-proclaimed "fabric snob" it's no wonder Laura carries the line in Kansas City, both ladies are particular about the quality and the feel of fabric.

Laura with Lea-Ann at New York Bridal Market (October 2012).

 Lea-Ann Belter focuses on rich fabrics that she incorporates into clean, simple and romantic designs.

-Elise

Wedding Wednesday

Hello Brides, everyone at Laura's Couture hopes you are having an outstanding Wedding Wednesday! With brides rushing all over Kansas City searching for the best vendors to complete their special day, and make it one that all of their friends remember forever, it's important to slow down. One very special bride took the time to share her experience at Laura's with us. We can't believe that in just a couple short weeks she will be walking down the aisle.

"You made my dress experience stress free and simple. Thank you for all of your help."
                                                                                             -Eryn

Check back later to see her YouTube video!

Fashion's Night Out & Reem Acra

With all the Fashion's Night Out hype happening all over today, we had to share our own surprise at Laura's Couture.

Reem Acra designs epitomize global glamour with her sense of luxury and regal designs with an element of modern aesthetic. What better way to celebrate Fashion's Night Out then with a new couture Reem Acra wedding gown!?  She truly captures what makes a woman look and feel beautiful on her wedding day. The newest Reem Acra wedding dress to be showcased in our bridal salon is nothing short of incredible! This dress is truly couture, Laura and I were so excited to get this dress in, especially today! The detail in the bodice is exactly what makes Reem dresses so special and the skirt is absolutely breathtaking! Words can't describe the intricate details. The design is truly one-of-a-kind and impeccable. We love the laser cut tulle and the delicate movement the dress makes as the bride walks.

Happy Fashion's Night Out Kansas City, the newest couture wedding dress has hit the Kansas City fashion scene!

Who is Badgley Mischka?

Who is Badgley Mischka?

Mark Badgley and James Mischka have been designing together since 1988. Since then, the famous duo has been slated by Vogue as being among the 'Top 10 American Designers."

 What makes their designs so unique? They focus on the younger modern couture client. They still use silhouettes and design styles that have lasted the test of time, the glamour of Hollywood in the 1940s.

Not only doest the pair have a keen aesthetic for what flows well on the female form, they also have extensive training. They met while studying fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York.

The brand has grown beautifully over the years into not only a bridal, evening wear and dress line, but also expanded to footwear. The best is yet to come for this dynamic duo!

Laura's Bride to the Rescue!

Today we have to brag a little bit.

 One of our former bride's, Cami, helped out a current bride on her big day. With her wedding a week away Mollie found herself needing a wedding cake. She had all of the other components to make her wedding day special; dream guy, the smiling faces of friends and family supporting her, a gorgeous Reem Acra wedding gown and a fabulous venue (a reception at Union Station is sure to keep guests dancing past midnight)! The only thing missing was a cake. Enter Cami's Cake Co. to the rescue!

Take a peek at the stunning 7 layer wedding cake with over 1000 petals decorating the cake!



Cake by Cami's Cake Co.
Reception held at Kansas City's Union Station

Weddings of this magnitude taken on a week before the wedding is not something Cami likes to do all the time, but helping out a fellow Laura's Couture Collection bride is always rewarding!

Thank you Cami!

-Elise

Vera Wang on Weddings - The Dress

"The Divine Obsession"

"For most women a wedding gown represents far more than just a dress. It is also the embodiment of a dream, perhaps one she has nurtured since childhood."

-an excerpt from Vera Wang on Weddings

Vera Wang has been the go to wedding dress designer for celebrities for years. Take a peek at those stars who have worn Vera Wang on thier special day! Will you wear Vera Wang on your wedding day?

Natasha Beddingfield

Ivanka Trump

Lily Aldridge

Hilary Duff



New Year's Wedding Pinterest

Planning a New Year's Eve Wedding?

Here are some photos to inspire!

We have been searching Pinterest for the best New Year's Wedding styles and have found quite a few we love. Check the board throughout the week as it is updated with glamourous New Years Style!


New Year's Wedding Style board created by Laura's Couture Collection.


photo courtesy of Pinterest



-Elise

Ideas for a New Years Wedding

How to Plan a New Year's Wedding

Are you busy planning a glamorous New Year's wedding? But first here are our favorite New Year's Eve wedding elements.

From the sparkle in your eye as you walk down the aisle to the shine of New Year's Eve your wedding is sure to be glamorous!

10. Luxe, crystal chandeliers 
9. Sparkler exit
8. Champagne
7. Chic Monique Lhuillier black bridesmaid dresses
6. Passed hors d'œuvre on silver trays
5. Glamorous Jenny Packham wedding dress4. Men in tuxedos
4. Twinkling candlelight
3. Get-a-way dress with just enough sparkle a la Erin Cole
2. Countdown complete with a midnight kiss
1. The start to a beautiful year and marriage
-Elise

James Clifford Wedding Dress Trunk Show

We are thrilled to have dresses from the James Clifford wedding dress collection this week! Elegant laces, fitted silhouettes and just a touch of sparkle are all design elements you will see in his wedding gowns.

James has been designing dream wedding dresses for brides for over 30 years. The style he creates has timeless elements with a hint of contemporary influence.

James (right) with Randy (middle) from Randy to the Rescue and a friend.

Behind the scenes of a fashion photo shoot for the new collection.

If classic with a contemporary twist is your style, this is a collection you do not want to miss. Laura's Couture Collection has the largest selection of James Clifford wedding dresses in Kansas City for this special trunk show! A few dresses were even sent to us from the Randy to the Rescue television show!

Be sure to call us today, appointments are booking quickly for this exciting event, 913-631-3010!


-Elise

Celebrations!

Top 10 Tuesday is celebrating Tuesday and another week of helping brides on their journey to the altar!

Everyday is a celebration, especially at Laura's Couture Collection! Not only are we helping Kansas City brides find their dream dresses, but we also get to help brides from all over the country, so why not celebrate?! Speaking of celebrating, we thought we'd take a few minutes today and share some fun facts about the drink synonymous with celebrations - champagne.

1.       Favorite cocktail for the ladies at Laura’s Couture Collection

2.       Key ingredient in the Measetique Mimosa

3.       Associated with power and luxury during the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries, still seen as a drink for aristocrats

4.       Bruts are better for overall champagne flavor, however, most Americans prefer a sweeter champagne

5.       To be called champagne the grapes must be from the Champagne region in France; if not from that region they are sparkling wines

6.       Pour at an angle to insure plenty of bubbles!

7.       Oldest bottle of champagne is a 187 year old Perrier-Jouet, according to the Guinness World Record

  

1923 advertisement

           

8.       Victorian coupe style champagne flutes are coming back in vogue, possibly due to the popularity of shows such as Mad Men. And champagne always tastes best when you drink it from a crystal glass!

9.       Moet & Chandon is the champagne served at events such as The Academy Awards, Kentucky Derby and Golden Globes, as well as numerous other sporting events and cinema parties.

10.   Searching for a wedding gift? Look no further, Dom Perignon has special bottles perfect for the newlyweds.

In the words of the French playwright, Honore de Balzac "Great love affairs start with champagne…" Congratulations to the newly engaged and newlyweds!

-Elise

Top 10 Tuesday: Pearls

June is the Month of Pearls

What better way than to celebrate pearls then with a little Top 10 Tuesday list of the fabulous women that have worn pearls!?

Pearls, either a single strand or layers of strands, evoke an elegance and timeless style unparalleled to most any other type of jewelry. That must be why it pairs so beautifully with wedding dresses. Take for instance the elegance of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, when she married JFK; the photo is timeless, simple and not dated, they look lovely and in love. And isn’t being in love what really matters! But enough of that! Today we wanted to show you the classic look of pearls. From trendy accessories, think Andy from The Devil Wears Prada, to the simple and timeless look of a classic, single strand of pearls.

Hollywood’s most striking women have been seen wearing pearls, and a top model or too! See some of our favorites below!

1.       The women of television’s Mad Men

2.       Fashion Designer Coco Chanel

3.       Scarlett Johansen, on the Red Carpet

4.       Sarah Jessica Parker, as Carrie Bradshaw, in Sex and the City: The Movie

5.       Anne Hathaway, as Andy, in The Devil Wears Prada

6.       Kristin Davis, asCharlotte York, in Sex and the City

7.       Reese Witherspoon, as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2

8.       Laura Mease, wedding dress stylist in pearls from Measetique Jewels

9.       Karlie Kloss, America’s Supermodel wears a collar of pearls

10.   Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis married JFK and wore a timeless single strand

-Elise

Top Ten Tuesday: Wedding Dress Shopping

Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping

Shopping for a wedding dress can be scary! It’s something you have most likely never done and it’s also a dress unlike any you’ve ever bought before. So what do you do? Sit back and enjoy your appointment!

1.       Authorized Dealer, only shop at a store that officially sells a line. Other stores say they can get you any dress from any designer, not a safe way to go. You will probably end up with a counterfeit or worse no dress at all.

2.       1-2 Guests – Keep shopping for the dress intimate; make the walk down the aisle even more exciting for everyone (not just your groom) by surprising everyone with your beautiful gown!

3.       Keep an Open Mind – Your bridal stylist can help you choose a look you never thought you would like, but wedding dresses fit and are styled differently, so what you think you will not like you might love.

4.       Don’t Obsess Over Magazines – They are models, there is Photoshop and dresses fit everyone’s body differently, see Tip #3.

5.       Get What You Want and Not What Someone Else Wants – It’s your day, your style, your dress! Not your best friends.

6.       Be True to Your Style – It’s your wedding day, be glamorous, but remember to be you, you don’t want to surprise your groom with a look he has never seen, he is marrying you. The original you.

7.       Have an instinct? Trust it! – Don’t doubt your feelings, if you found the wedding dress at the first store and it was your first or second dress to try on then that is great! Trust yourself, you found a great guy, the dress is the easy part!

8.       Time - Shop with plenty of time to order your dress, don’t wait till the last minute.

9.       Have fun! – It’s your wedding dress, a once in a lifetime dress, so have fun!

10.   Relax – You are in great hands.

What Fit Should My Wedding Dress Be?

Top 10 Tuesday and Wedding Wednesday: Trends from the Runway


Nope, we didn't forget that yesterday was Top 10 Tuesday, we were busy going through thousands of beautiful photos from the Haute Couture Runway Shows and the Resort Runway Shows! We also wanted to answer the famous question "What fit will flatter my figure best for a wedding dress?"

Well, after looking through the collections by designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Dior, Erdem, Elie Saab, ect. we found a few similarities. The natural waistline is wear fashion is staying.

The fashion houses of Dior brought the signature "New Look" back for modern audiences. Belts, wraps, sashes and peplums adorned the waistlines of the models wearing the 2012 Haute Couture Collection.

Dior 2012
"Dior's New Look" inspired dress

Dior 2012
Peplum ensemble accented with belt and gloves

Dior 2012, belted off the shoulder

While Oscar de la Renta accented the waistline with belts. Pulling yards of fabric together at the waist to create full skirts with fabulous movement!

Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013
Belted dress with sleeves

Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013
Movement, neckline, natural waistline this dress has it all.

Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013
Flowing fabric, belted waist and a fresh color for the season.

In Chanel's Resort collection, designer Karl Lagerfeld played with proportions, highlighting the waist and bringing more volume to the hips. The detailed panels bring the perfect touch of movement for the eye; allowing a lovely balance to the natural waistline.

Chanel Resort
Cinched waist and fullness at the hips.

Elie Saab also plays with fun and summery colors and accents many of the dresses with fabulous skinny belts.

Elie Saab 2012
Belted at the waist dress in a shade close to Pantone's Color of the Year

Not all of the skirts have to be full skirted in order to belt and show off the waist. Erdem's Resort 2013 line shows the chicness of a straighter skirt. One style shown is belted, and the other show off the natural waist by utilizing a striking black, lace top that stops directly at the natural waist.

Erdem Resort 2013
Different ways to accent the waist: belt or blouse.

With so many designers showcasing the natural waist, it's no wonder why the natural waist fits most figures so beautifully and adding a belt adds a lovely touch! And we couldn't help ending this post in a way similar to many fashion houses end their runway shows, with a wedding gown!

Elie Saab 2012

-Elise