The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

WARNING: THIS POST IS PIC HEAVY

As promised, and only a week late, here are some pictures from last weekend's bridal show.

I didn't retouch any of these photos, because I didn't want to make the bad ones look better (and because I'll never have enough time on my hands to retouch this many pics). Also, some of the pictures aren't composed very well, because I felt I needed to be a little sneaky as I took them. I didn't know if some of the vendors would be bugged by another vendor snapping away. I encourage you to enlarge them for better detail.

Also, with only a couple of exceptions, I have taken care not to show or mention the names of the vendors. Although it could be argued that some of them do indeed deserve international shaming, I have to live in this town. If you have specific questions about certain vendors, especially because you love their work, just let me know.

They had a lounge area set up near my booth. It was the whole "graphic black and white with a punch of color" theme, which I saw almost everywhere at the show. As a design technique, that's starting to bore me. But as I was later discussing with a friend, I still think it works for fashion. Notice that the accent color was green. (Green seems to be THE wedding color these days, if the Little Rock bridal show is any indicator.) They also used a lot of clear chairs, which I'll admit I do like. I've always been a fan of Philippe Starck's ghost chairs, and I'd love to have one.

I hate this picture. It, and it's fraternal twin sister, the "look how high our wedding party can jump in the air" picture, need to go away. I implore all good photographers out there to stare blankly at any bride who requests shots like that.

Yeah, you know you want a hot pink and orange wedding, and you know you want the ladies who plan that wedding to also dress in that color scheme. It just comes together so well, right?

We won't talk about that cake. It's Arkansas, people.

Lots of booths there were doing this leaning tower of blossoms thing. I think it's hideous. It looks like your florist screwed up. My friend Kerri told me that she thinks it showed up in some magazine somewhere, so now everyone is doing it. To which I say, "If everyone jumped off a bridge..."

This is a local cake company that does some really neat things. I've never tried one of their cakes before, but they look pretty cute. I was torn at this booth, though. On one hand, they had lots of those topsy-turvy cakes. Topsy-turvy cakes belong to brides who want to take pictures of their wedding party jumping in the air.

But then they had this creation. The colors, the design, the detail -- I loved everything about this cake.

This booth belonged to a couple who do photography. I love the way they chose to display their sample photos and their business cards. I've always had a thing for teeny clothespins, though. (Teeny anything, really. Stop laughing.)

As yes, here's Tanarah, of Distinctive Designs by Tanarah. When I rounded the corner and saw her booth, I stopped in my tracks. There's the whole "my booth is 20 feet taller than yours" thing. Then there's the Amazon dressed in a wedding gown made of flowers.

Everything Tanarah did was incredibly unique. Take, for example, this bridal portrait.

Not unique, you say? Look at it from the side.

What?!?! She attached fresh flowers to a portrait! Who thinks of that kind of stuff? Pas moi. I also loved this centerpiece that she did.

Tanarah says, "Why display samples of your bouquets in a vase when you can hang them from a rustic frame?" (See the first Tanarah picture for the full view with frames.)

Also notice that sofa which she has covered in moss. Real moss. Woodsy, fairy-like themes seemed to be popular, and she did touches of that well without being twee about it.

No, this next pic is not Tanarah's work. This booth just had the same color scheme. Look, I did the drinks in the glass jars thing at my wedding, so I can't complain about it too much. But that was in 2001. And it was outside. In the morning. I think Martha Stewart's come up with plenty of other great wedding ideas more recently, so let's move on, shall we?

I hate that the next two pictures didn't come out better, because this booth had some great ideas. I loved these table settings.

Ok, avert your eyes if you're a prude. Jamie Fender happens to do some beautiful wedding photography. But she also does things that are a little more risque, including boudoir photography. But my word, she does it right. It's hard to tell from these shots, but her work is so chic and artistic. I know, I know, that's a Playboy-esque cliche, but it's true!

I love what this next photographer did with her booth. Not only did she lay down a tile floor over the ugly convention hall carpet, but she had some of her photos turned into tiles.

More green woodsy fairyland business.

Love what this photographer did, also. He built a faux wall out of wood, and it showcased his work so well. But more green and black. Yawn.

There were a couple of vendors there renting photo booths. One of them had cute retro props and outfits for the guests. The other had this crap. Yes, these are the types of hats that you either win at the fair or buy in a drunken stupor when you're on Spring Break.

This table display made my eyes bleed. I believe this event rental company was run by two straight guys. That's their excuse.

And look, it's as if they had my blog in mind when they chose this color scheme.

I don't know what to say about this, other than if you've been desiring a "Prince circa 1984" themed wedding, this is the event company for you.

There's classy boudoir photography, then there's this, for the bride who's always dreamed of being in a rap video. (Although the top pic is kinda cool. And I do believe it's a bride and bride.)

When Hannah Montana gets married, her reception will look something like this.

Why yes, this is an ugly glowing pink coffee table with sticks made out of silver beads on it. There are no words.

At first I didn't like this. Then bits and pieces of it began to grow on me. Maybe I was just deliriously tired. Or maybe it's because it has that whole vampire brothel thing going on, which I'm not completely opposed to.

What do you choose when you want to do the flower lean, but want to be different? Why, you go for the flower droop.

Insert flower Viagra joke here.

OK, true story. I walked up to this chocolate fountain booth just in time to hear this bride and groom say "Oooh, that's kind of a funny color."

Seriously? Do y'all not own mirrors?

Hey kids, there's this booth that can do a Purple Rain themed wedding right over there.