You’ve read his books, seen his awesome talent on display at events for J. Lo, Elton John and Tommy Hilfiger. You’ve fawned over him on Oprah and Tyra, and nodded empathetically at his sage advice on “My Fair Wedding.” And now you can slip into WOW gowns from his brand new bridal couture line, David Tutera by Faviana, when it makes its Houston debut at Maison de Mode this Friday through Sunday.

Bearing the tag line “Inspired by the red carpet, worn on the white carpet,” Tutera’s high-drama gowns are named for classic and current stars like Gwyneth, Audrey, Cameron and Marilyn. A few styles, like the fabulous, figure-hugging, floral-accented Eva, convert into shorter dresses for post-ceremony partying. So convenient!

Make sure to make your appointment now. This show is gonna be hotter than Houston in July. See you there!

Maison de Mode – David Tutera by Faviana

Friday, September 3 – Sunday, September 5, 2010

2431 Rice Blvd

Houston, TX 77005

For more information call 713.527.8285 or RSVP

We know that Houston has the best wedding and event experts in the entire country. And now lots of other people do, too. That’s because two of our finest hometown wedding talents just won big at the annual National Association of Catering Executives Awards, held in Austin this year. Just in case you were wondering, NACE awards are to catering professionals what Oscars are to film actors, and believe us, Lisa Hopkins and Monique Studak are stars!

Hopkins, director of catering at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, was named NACE’s Caterer Member of the Year, while Studak, of E&J Gallo Winery, took home the award for Event Professional of the Year. Fortunately for us, another awesome hometown talent, David Jones of D. Jones Photography, was there to capture these exciting moments for us, and you, to enjoy.

If you’re planning your wedding, and your path happens to cross with either of these amazing women, please be sure to offer your congratulations. And let us offer ours: Great job, gals!!

Top left, right: Lisa Hopkins; Bottom: Monique Studak

Photos by D. Jones Photography

Here’s what we love about trash-the-dress photo shoots: the chance to get out into nature, in your gown, with your new hubby, for a series of pix that capture the sexy, exhilarating rush of newlywed romance in all its wild glory. Yowza. Here’s what we don’t love about the trash-the-dress photo shoots: um, trashing the dress.

It sounds awfully destructive, but a trash-the-dress photo shoot doesn’t actually have to involve turning your wedding gown into garbage. Depending on your bridal gown’s material and embellishments, it can usually be cleaned and preserved post-shoot (though it probably won’t retain its pristine pre-wedding glory, you’re not likely to wear it again anyway). And even if it can’t, it just may be worth the wow of a set of gorgeously sensual trash-the-dress photos.

These unbelievably romantic TDD pix from around the globe—which, depending on where you work, are kinda NSFW—say, “Oh, yes.”

Natural, unposed, unabashed–no wonder this beautiful South Florida TDD is from Jessica Loren Organic Photography.

You can just feel the day-after-the-big-day languor and love in this Ocho Rios, Jamaica, TDD pic from Ontario-based photographer Melanie Dreidger.

How much fun is this UK TDD by Freeman Photographics? The bride looks like a mermaid!

This desert shoot from California photographer Kerry Garrison is SO HOT, no?

After that scorcher, how about cooling off with a plunge into romance from award-winning Riviera Maya, Mexico-based Del Sol Photography?

• Six pages of breathtaking wedding-reception table design.
• Nine pages of dreamy designer wedding gowns, hot off the Jan. 2010 Before You Say…”I Do!” bridal-soiree runway.
• Twelve totally personalized, absolutely exquisite Houston Real Weddings.
• The brand-spanking-new “Profiles in Elegance” series, featuring exclusive interviews with three of the world’s most famous bridal-gown designers and three of the world’s most in-demand celebrity wedding planners.

These are just a handful of the features you’ll find in the July issue of Weddings in Houston magazine, on newsstands—and at select bridal salons and wedding vendor locations around town—right now!

Of course, you’ll also find Houston’s best wedding consultants, floral designers, cake bakers, caterers, gowns, accessories, venues, photographers, video pros, transportation companies—everything you need to create the wedding of your dreams.

Plus, the new issue’s got Houston wedding services you’re not likely to find ANYWHERE else. For instance…

Looking for a scent expert to create a personalized wedding perfume of your own? Flip to the new issue’s Wedding Resource Directory to find Fúmme Custom Fragrance.

In-laws-to-be interested in getting you the perfect shower or wedding gift? Point them in the direction of renowned bridal/wedding portrait artist Sheila McGraw, whose listing appears in the same aforementioned directory!

All this and much more is available in beautiful, oversize, full-color glory in the new issue of Weddings in Houston magazine. Pick it up, tote it around to vendor and gown-shopping appointments, scrawl notes in the margins, dog-ear those glossy pages, share it with friends, splash a little Chardonnay on the cover, really, we don’t mind. After all, Houston bride, we made it just for you.

Happy planning!

She may have recently relocated to Beverly Hills, but Winnie Chlomin is still a Houston icon, and her flagship store is still a Houston bridalwear institution. This weekend it’s also the place to buy your dream gown for 40-70% off retail! Yup, that’s right, from Friday, Apr. 23 through Sun., Apr. 25, the Winnie Couture Flagship Salon hosts its totally amazing once-a-year sample sale, where fashionable Houston brides like yourself can choose from among more than 100 styles of new and sample gowns.

We’re always up for a visit to the serenely elegant Winnie Couture salon, but we’re even more enthused when that visit might mean snapping up a delicious silk charmeuse destination gown or dramatic couture ballgown for HALF what we would have paid a couple of months ago. (After all, that means we’ve got a few more bucks to spend on accessories at next week’s Erica Koessler Accessories trunk show at Mia Bridal Couture.

Love yourself some Winnie? Keep an eye out for our profile of the divine designer, coming up in the July issue of Weddings in Houston!

Let’s be honest, Houston bride: You’ve never needed a vacation as badly as you do in the midst of juggling those 7 million little details you diplomatically call planning your wedding. Luckily, you’ve got your honeymoon to look forward to, right? Ugh, if only you have to plan that, too …

Well, now, you can cross all of those honeymoon planning details off your to-do list. Instead, just pick up the phone and call Houston’s own Modern Honeymoons or visit their  website. This totally free service will do all of the legwork of planning your romantic getaway—and save you some serious money.

All you have to do is tell them about you and your fiancé’s honeymoon style and budget. Want to take a cruise around the world? Soak up the sun and drink piña coladas at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico? Pose in front of ancient monuments as you backpack across Europe and stay at cozy bed and breakfasts? You name it, Modern Honeymoons has you covered.

By milking its relationships with some of the world’s best resorts, boutique hotels and travel wholesalers, Modern Honeymoons—a division of Travel with Tim—scores newlyweds-to-be the best deals on airfare, rental cars, hotels, cruises. Their specialty? All-inclusive-stay packages, which means you and your guy can forget about money and planning meals and activities (finally!) and just relax and soak up your first days of marital bliss. And don’t worry about your budget—no matter how much you can afford to spend, Modern Honeymoons can put together a romantic honeymoon package that fits the bill.

That’s not the only reason to love this sweet honeymoon planning service: Modern Honeymoons can even set up a honeymoon registry. That’s right, Houston bride, you can give your wedding guests the option of helping to foot the bill for a honeymoon you’re sure to always remember (rather than a dozen settings of fine China you probably won’t use). And you can give yourself an even fancier post-wedding vacay than you’d planned.

So what are you waiting for? Your to-do list called, and it wants “plan honeymoon” crossed off—like now.

We love the idea of injecting a little extra amusement into your wedding, don’t you? We’re not talking balloon animals and bouncy castles here (although, if that’s your bag, Houston bride, go for it!). We’re thinking about intriguing, unexpected, slightly more grown-up diversions.

For instance:
Magic on the Move
The strolling magician is a very cool cocktail-reception idea. Imagine a suave, debonair magician circling the room and stopping by cocktail tables. Guests don’t have to do much except maybe pick a card, any card, and enjoy the mystery and excitement of good, old-fashioned sleight-of-hand—and enjoy it they will, guaranteed.

Photo Booth
Fast becoming a reception favorite, the classic or digital photo booth gives guests a chance to make their own wedding memories. Throw in photo booth frames—these can easily double as place-card holders—and you’ve got a fun wedding favor, too! Ask your photographer for a booth rental referral.

Sweet Sensations
Another much-loved activity-favor combo is the custom candy bar. Stock your bar with your favorite childhood sweets, or match your candy colors to your reception palette. Supply guests with custom-monogrammed or imprinted bags, tins or boxes, and let them go to town!

Planning a warm-weather wedding? There’s something so nice about ice cream. Rare is the guest who’s not charmed by the make-your-own sundae bar or cone cart. Your wedding caterer can help you plan the perfect treat.

Late Night Fun
Planning to do a post-reception lounge or after-party? Consider featuring an authentic cigar-roller. If your groom, dad or dude friends are cigar fans, they’ll love the chance to watch a rolling pro do his thing—and enjoy the fruits of his labors, accompanied by a sophisticated postprandial libation, afterward (in the appropriate outdoor setting, of course).

For indoor late-night entertainment, nothing beats a little karaoke! Rent a setup, stock your song list with classic wedding tunes and your favorite hits, hire a karaoke MC, have your wedding coordinator set up a stage, and you’ve got the makings for YEARS of amusing wedding anecdotes. What could be better than that?

We know about you, Houston bride: You’ve got a flair for style, and you’re making sure every little detail on your wedding day has your name written all over it. Shoes, dress, and jewels? Check, check, check. First dance song? Check. Place cards? Obvi.

But what about your invitations? Have you found some that show off your unique style and really set the tone for the wedding you’re planning?

What’s that, Houston bride? You’re still looking? Well, then we insist: Stop flipping through those big books of invitations and head directly to Tad + Faboo’s Web site. Run by husband and wife duo, Tad and Heather Griffin, this Houston paperie and stationery studio works with brides to design elegant save-the-dates, wedding invitations, menus, cocktail napkins, escort cards, thank you notes, shower invites, programs, and more.

Looking for an invitation with pockets? They can design one for you. Looking for an eco-friendly save-the-date? They can take care of that, too.

Have we mentioned that Tad + Faboo specializes in Letterpress Printing? Oh, yes, Houston bride, this boutique invitation studio knows how to put on the charm.

Letterpress might not be your thing, of course, and the Griffins know this. That’s why they also offer traditional offset printing.

Brides who use Tad + Faboo have two options for selecting invitations: If you’re on a budget, try Tad + Faboo’s stock collection. You can get any of the invitations, and other stationery from their collection, customized to match your wedding color palette. Or, if you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind and have a little dough to spare, consider opting for Tad + Faboo’s custom design option. This way, you’ll get exactly the invitation you’ve dreamed of in the colors you want, with the flair you want. And no other Houston bride will have an invitation quite like yours.

What matters most at Tad + Faboo is that your wedding stationery radiates your unique wedding style or theme. Your big day is about you, after all.

That’s why Tad and Heather spend one to three hours getting to know their brides and grooms before they ever begin the design process. And they make two complimentary rounds of revisions before they print your invitations. With that sort of commitment to their brides, we practically want to marry Tab + Faboo!