Monday's Moment

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul. ~ Democritus

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things.

David Tutera For Mon Cheri. I love David Tutera and Mon Cheri Bridals. I feel like a child waiting to open presents at Christmas. I just hope there will be a bridal salon carrying this line in the Central Florida area. Check out the details at
http://moncheribridals.com/news/david-tutera-for-mon-cheri/

Monday's Moment

Sometimes I would almost rather have people take away years of my life than take away a moment.
- Pearl Bailey

Oh No My Wedding Gown!!! Part Two

Stain Kit


Okay, so let's see what is in the kit to handle those horrid, horrid stains.

Rule One: When working with fabric is "KNOW THY FABRIC". Not all fabrics can handle all cleaning methods. Any garment purchased should have a label that shows the fiber content. Generally the label is sewn inside however in some bridal salons remove the labels. If the label has been removed from the garment, then the fiber content should be listed on a tag on the outside of the gown.

Rule Two: If the stain is in an inconspicuous place it may be best to leave it alone or attempt to cover it up.

Rule Three: If you must proceed to stain removal be gentle to the fabric. Dab the fabric don't rub. Rubbing may grind the stain deeper into the fabric.

Kit Contents:

White Chalk - Perfect to cover up small stains that are not to dark in color.

Baby Powder - Good for stains that are oil based. Apply the powder to the stain, dab a bit, wait and brush away the powder. The baby powder will absorb the oil and help to alleviate the stain.

Rubbing Alchohol - Great for removing ink, as well as ground in dirt and grass stains.

Spit - I know the "ewwww" factor is high but the absolute easiest way to remove blood is to actually spit on the stain work it around then wipe the stain away. The best spit to use is the person to whom the blood belongs.

Club Soda - Works well for removing red wine, but then so does white wine.

I know there are many, many other rememdies, soultions and potions for stain removal but these are quick, easy, portable and do the job.

Oh No My Wedding Gown!!! Part One

Don't get caught with only a tissue to blot a bride's tears should she yell this most dreaded phrase. No emergency kit is complete without the proper tools to combat a variety of wedding gown "near" catastrophes. After years of working in the bridal gown industry and planning weddings here at Moments And Memories we have a separate kit for wedding gown emergencies. We constantly add and delete items from the kit based on the wedding, time of year and location. Here's a glimpse of some of our favorite kit items.

Sewing Kit

Needle & Thread - White, Ivory, Black and the Wedding Colors. We carry medium size spools not those mini barely able to hem half a coat sleeve sizes.

Scissors - Fabric Only Scissors. Using scissors to cut paper dulls the blades and fabric hates a dull blade.

Safety Pins - In various sizes. A well placed safety pin will quickly fix broken bustles, peeping bras and zippers that won't lock.

Lint Roller - Great for those lint catching black tuxes.

Fabric Glue - Stop a line of running beads in their tracks!

Lighter - Not recommended for the faint of heart or a novice. Organza and chiffon tend to fray horribly when torn. Burning the fabric ends will melt the fabric and stop a run. Please oh please use care and make sure the bride, bridesmaid, mom or guest is OUT OF THE GARMENT!!!

Anti-Static Spray - Especially during the winter months. Running low, wave you magic wand wire hanger on the garment or attach a safety pin to the hem.

Nylons and Socks - Yes we really do carry a spare pair or two.

White Slippers - Place them under the bridal table just in case the shoes must come off. Remember to put the heels back on when walking around!

Velcro - My personal favorite. Quick hems, missing buttons, fixing shoes, and on and on. We go through Velcro like crazy.

Goodness no wonder it's a stand alone kit. I had every intention of adding the stain information to this post but, I think we had better part two this topic and do a separate stain post. Just edited the title!

So what are your favorite emergency kit staples? I bet there are some great and ingenious ideas out there!

Ann Lowe Revisited

Lately, I have been noticing bridesmaid dresses and wedding gowns with three dimensional details and thinking it all looks vaguely familiar. The wedding gown on the right was worn by Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953, the day she married John F Kennedy. Notice the detailing on the skirt of the gown....three dimensional. This dress was designed by African-American fashion designer Ann Lowe. Her customers included the Duponts, Roosevelts, Posts, Biddles, Rockefellers, Auchinclosses, and other families that were listed in the Social Register. They loved her work. She was known as "society's best kept secret," because, of course, no one would admit their clothing was being designed by a black woman.

Many of her designs incorporated floral appliques set on the garment instead of embroidered in the fabric. Olivia deHavilland accepted her 1946 Best Actress Oscar wearing an Ann Lowe creation. The gown was a pale blue strapless gown with floral appliques cascading down the gown. This description could easily describe any number of bridal and bridesmaids dresses for this season. The dress was attributed to Sonia Rosenberg save for Ms. Lowe receiving a small mention in a newspaper article. In here lifetime Ann Lowe received little recognition for her contribution to American fashion. Not to worry though, we can certainly see Ms. Lowe's influence in our contemporary wedding attire.





Mori Lee, Watters and Pronovias designs respectively, all give a huge nod to Ann Lowe's three dimensional design elements. Tell me is this orange dress an Ann Lowe creation or a new tea-length bridesmaid dress on display at a local salon? If imitation is sincerest form of flattery than Ms. Lowe has indeed been given high praise in the world of fashion today. Like so many great artists the worth is not realized until the artist no longer creates.By the way the orange gown is an Ann Lowe design on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Love Is All You Need

We would like to thank Allison and Kevin for letting us be a part of their wedding celebration. Love filled the air as family and friends gathered to watch them exchange their vows. Beauty, grace and charm were the buzz words for the day. I am sure Allison was channeling Grace Kelly.




The Cathedral of the Incarnation provided the perfect backdrop for the ceremony. Allison and Kevin's minimalist approach to decorating allowed the beauty of the church to take center stage. The orange and yellow gerber daisy bouquets added just the right amount of color to compliment the warm colors and rich textures of the Anglican Church.



The reception was held in Grundorf Hall at St. Albans Anglican Cathedral. Allsion pulled her reception colors ivory, champagne and chocolate from her gown and the bridesmaid dresses. Her minimalist approach to design was evident as well. Kevin's love of the Beatles was constant throughout the evening from the choice of 1st dance to the Hershey Kiss favors with "All You Need Is Love" lables. Even the Maid of Honor caught the Beatles vibe and included song references in her toast.

Congratulations Kevin and Allison, may your love for each other bring you many beautiful moments and unforgettable memories.