Flavors of Fall and Winter

Happy fall, y’all! We may have mentioned a time or two that we cherish this time of the year! The saturated colors, the wonderful scents and the luscious, rich flavors of the amazing assortment of fall and winter foods! By the way, if you didn’t notice the slight change in weather today, winter is right around the corner!

 

Bringing in the flavors of fall and winter is a great way to incorporate a seasonal theme into your wedding. Plus, with the chillier weather, your guests will appreciate warm, filling food. Here are some suggestions that are sure to satisfy your guests.

 

Hors d’oeuvres

Small bites are still big! Warm your guests’ hearts and bellies with shooters of thick, creamy soups such as butternut squash or potato leek.Or incorporate the fabulous flavor of everyone’s favorite round orange squash in a pumpkin goat cheese tartlet or pumpkin mousse in puff pastry. Or what about sweet potato rounds replacing the expect crostini topped with herbs, cheese and olives?Is your mouth watering yet?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salads and sides
Salads are wonderful first courses year-round, but in the fall and winter, they are even better served with a warm vinaigrette!And you might want to consider comfort food for your sides such as whipped sweet potatoes or roasted root vegetables. Fennel is a slightly sweet seasonal flavor that partners wonderfully with all manner of foods, from fruits and root vegetables to garnish and being cooked into a demi-glace to go over meat. Scrumptious!

 

Desserts
Apples, pears and citrus are at their peak right now and are incredibly delicious! Incorporate these seasonal fruits into pies, tarts and cakes to take advantage of their luscious flavors.If you’re an adventurous bride, be bold with your wedding and groom’s cakes flavors. Think gingerbread, carrot or spice cake; a vanilla or chocolate cake with peppermint buttercream; or red velvet.

While red velvet is ubiquitous in the south year-round, it feels especially seasonal around the holidays.

 

Cocktails
Lest you think we’ve forgotten, seasonal flavors make for fun and creative cocktails! You might want to check out our post on seasonal cocktails last fall, but we’ll give you a bit of inspiration here as well.Anything cranberry would be a delightfully tart and tasty beverage. Warm drinks such as hot toddies or any spiked versions of coffee, cider and hot chocolate would thrill your guests as they head into your cocktail hour from the cold outside – guaranteed to warm them from their toes up!

 

Work with your caterer to find ways to include the season’s best in your wedding reception menu. More and more caterers are planning their offerings around local and seasonal foods (thank goodness!), so this should be a fun and easy way to give your big day a little holiday flair.

image credits: Epicurious, Just a Taste, Martha Stewart, NY Times,  Pinterest,  One Stylish Bride, Sil Azevedo, Sweet Little Peanut

Time to listen up, bridesmaids! Your lineup of fall weddings will be here before you can say “congratulations” to the grooms and “best wishes” to the brides. That’s why it’s best to start now on ordering romantic bridesmaid dresses to wear to all these special occasions.

It will take between 6 and 12 weeks (in the best-case scenario) to order bridesmaid dresses. You can pick out gowns and order them in store at StarDust, and the order will be placed when everyone has sent in their individual measurements and gown payments. Best to get started today!

For ideas on planning out your gowns, we’ve put together the top 3 trends for bridesmaid dresses that’ll have you looking fine this fall.

Trend #1: Bring On the Glam With Fall Jewel Tones

Pastels are sweet but we are thrilled to see sexy shades of ruby, sapphire and emerald on our racks. Jeweled gowns are a major trend for bridesmaid dresses in the 2018 wedding season. What’s not to love? These rich, vibrant shades have all the sophistication and glamour of a black gown but the pop of color leaves a lasting impression. Not to mention, they look flawless on nearly all skin tones.

Jewel tones are such a classic, they are sure to stay on the top of trend lists for seasons to come. Not only will you be in style for your fall weddings, but this will be a gown to wear for many future elegant evenings. Win-win!

Trend #2: Strike a Pose in Lush Velvet Textures

For fall weddings, velvet can add a touch of drama to the overall wedding party look. Last seen on the runways in the 1990’s, velvet is definitely staging a comeback in the wedding industry this year (and next year!). Velvet textures can be a fun alternative to lighter fabrics like chiffon, and they are easy to mix and match for a luxurious touch that you won’t be able to keep your hands off of.

Trend #3: Look Sexy in an Off-the-Shoulder Dress

An off-the-shoulder dress is a classic choice for bridesmaids. You can’t go wrong! The trend this year is a playful “cold shoulder”. Long sleeves reveal some skin while keeping it modest and chic. This is such a fabulously practical trend for the cooler fall months!

In 2019, bridesmaid dresses with sleeves will continue to be popular with delicate details like the tied shoulder, flouncy cap sleeves or voluminous bell sleeves. If you’re going to be outdoors in nice weather, then you can opt for this flirty look at the ceremony. Girl, show off those pretty shoulders!

At StarDust, you can order gowns as a group in store with the other bridesmaids in your wedding party. If your group has four or more women, you can receive a discount, upon request—remember to ask when you go in! Usually, you’ll receive a better price when all of the gowns are ordered from the same salon (both online and in store). If you live in a different town than the other bridesmaids, you can always order your dress online here.

Check out our Bridesmaids FAQ page for full-length answers and all the details.

After marveling at the royal wedding gown of the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, many brides are seeking out an emerging trend that has been gaining momentum – clean, modern gowns that speak volumes in their simplicity. These minimalist looks trade embellishments, lace and beads for little more than luxurious fabrics and impeccable fit.

If you love this look, schedule your appointment with one of our professional stylists to find your perfect fit.