Although I decided to officially take the week off, I got so excited when I saw this image, that I was inspired to whip up a little bridemaids look around it.

It is not often that one image is powerful enough that it can fuel the whole story, but this one sure can! Perhaps it’s just me, eagerly awaiting my flight to Miami tomorrow for a New Years vacation, but I think this Mango and Papaya palette with shots of gold is Ab Fab. And the Confetti System decor is to die. If you were lucky enough to scoop up the Confetti System special edition at Urban Outfitters this Holiday, you were a smart, forward thinking bride. On another DIY tip to all of you summer brides, hit your local Wal-Mart and Target now to buy the 80% Christmas lights. You won’t regret it as you get closer and realize how much these decorations are when they are branded ‘Wedding’ instead of ‘Christmas’. Happy 2010 my lovelies!

Dresses from Bluefly

and post ONE GREAT DRESS shot by Jessica Claire. We are signing off for the week to enjoy some Christmas festivities. Hope you all get everything you want this Christmas…which means we’ll see many of you at Lovely in the new year to buy your wedding dresses!

We love this look for a rehearsal dinner. No reason why you should only wear one amazing white dress! We think both the mood and the makeup in these shots by Kate Headley is just a little reminder to brides that less can be more.

It was fun to read 100 Layer Cake’s year end review last Friday. If you can’t tell, we also totally dig inspiration boards, and got a kick out of hearing 100 Layer Cake’s shout out to Snippet & Ink for inspiring color boards everywhere. We have been inspired both by Snippet & Ink and 100 Layer’s Cake versions, and thought we would take a little spin on the concept in our own Lovely and fashiony way by styling out some fab bridesmaids looks in each inspiration board. We die for mis-matched bmaids, and sometimes the coordinated chaos is a little difficult to pull off. Lovely is here to help!

You can tell from today’s board, that we’re getting a little ‘over’ the Snowy Christmas and a little ‘jazzed’ about tearing up a dance floor this New Year’s Eve! We love the electricity in this palette. Not only is it fresh and juicy but has a youthful edge too. After all, we are leaving the decade of 00s and heading into our TEENS!

Top Row: Bouquet from The Knot gallery, 80′s hottie from Surface Magazine
Bottom Row: Table display from Party Rentals LTD
Dress from Bluefly

We’ve decided to sign off each friday with a signature ‘Lovely’ feature we’re calling ONE GREAT DRESS. One picture, one dress, one breaktaking example of how it all came together in sheer perfection. You know, the perfect dress shot that you might even print and frame even though you didn’t go to the wedding, and may not even know the couple in the picture. Like this shot from Punam Bean. Try to breathe after that heavy gasp and have a LOVELY WEEKEND!