Mary Katherines

The Most Outrageous Wedding Dress

2010-08-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is a couture ball gown, by designer Pnina Tornai Exclusively for Kleinfeld!

The Most Romantic Wedding Locations...

2010-08-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

1. Le Chateau d' Esclimont, France

2.Top of a Mountain in New Zealand

3.Grand Hotel, Florence Italy

4.Tandjung Sari Resort, Bali, Indonesia

5.Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA

Save The Date!

2010-07-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for Sunday September 12th! We along with hundreds of other vendors will be at the "Everything Bridal Show."

Where: The Hy-Vee Conference Center, in Des Moines
Time: 10am to 3pm, with a runway show held from 1pm to 2pm

Hope to see you all their!

15 Tips for choosing your Wedding Colors!

2010-07-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Color: it's the unifying feature for most of your wedding details. So it's no surprise that choosing the right wedding color theme for your celebration may seem over whelming. But the truth is, it's easier than you think. The key to creating a stylish and successful wedding color combo is understanding the relationship between colors -- and no, you don't need a degree from art school to absorb the ideas. Just find a starting place (your favorite hue, your forest green setting), then work from there. Here's how.

1. Set Your Eyes On Your Site

When deciding on a wedding color palette, play up the prominent colors of your site or setting. For instance, if your wedding is by the sea, the natural choice is blue. And, if you're marrying at a country club with navy and maroon oriental carpets, lime green and hot pink details won't work.

2. Get Inspired By the Season

Let Mother Nature be your guide -- they say she never makes a mistake. Pink may work year-round, but light pastels and barely there hues like buff can look washed out for a fall or winter wedding. In the summer, reserve dark colors like burgundy only for accents.

3. Do Your Research

Become aware of color combinations that you like, whether browsing art galleries or flipping through a stack of home or fashion or interior design magazines for the must-have colors for the new season.

4. Scout It Out

To choose an exact hue, visit a fabric store or neighborhood paint shop and collect swatches or chips of colors you might want to use. This will help you get specific, so that when you decide on green you'll know if it's lime green, Kelly green, sage green, or forest green.

5. Choose a Dominant Hue

Pick one general color first -- say, blue -- and then start thinking about shades and tints (aqua, robin's egg, navy) or other colors to accent it with.

6. Play with Paint Websites

From seeing colors in action (by virtual room painting) to recommendations for popular color combos, paint companies know a lot about color. Visit sites like Behr.com, Glidden.com, and Sherwin-Williams.com. BenjaminMoore.com even has an interactive color wheel.

7. Pair Wisely

Stick to wedding colors of the same intensity, such as lavender and baby blue rather than royal blue with light brown.

8. Set the Mood

Figure out what emotions you want your celebration to evoke. A peaceful, Zen-like retreat? A regal, romantic affair? A jumping, high-energy party? For instance, a vibrant summer yellow mixed with chocolate-brown (think sunflowers and bees) is perfect for a country-chic wedding -- add gold to the mix, and the combination becomes more reminiscent of regal France.

9. Get It On Paper

Spend time looking for wedding stationery in color combos that inspire you and express your style and fit with the feel of the reception -- rich violets, oranges, and teals for a Mediterranean or Near East flair, or pink and green for a preppy summer affair.

10. Vary It Up

Can't settle on one scheme? If your wedding takes place in multiple rooms, each can have its own palette. But choose one consistent color to keep it from looking like a kaleidoscope.

11. Take Flower Notes

The most obvious way to add color is with your wedding flowers. But first, get familiar with the different types of flowers -- especially your favorites -- and the colors they come in. If you want an all-blue wedding, your petal picks will be more limited than if you went with a red celebration.

12. Don't Forget Your Linens

Look through party rental catalogs for colorful cloths like napkins and overlays that you love. Use them on guest, cake and buffet tables, underneath the escort cards, and more. Or, focus on the table accessories. Maybe a beloved china pattern could set the palette for your reception tables. Colored glassware is also huge right now and can be rented. Do most of your glasses in clear, and select one or two to be blue, pink, or green -- you get the idea.

13. Light It Up

Lighting can make or break a space. Talk to your event designer or lighting expert about colors you can use to wash bare white walls (especially important for loft spaces). Pink and amber tints will soften the room without overpowering it. Blue is tricky, but can work well if you're looking to showcase cool crisp angles.

14. Drive Home Color

Don't forget about the impact of repetition -- trimming doorways, tables, centerpieces, and the bar with the same simple ribbon in your signature hue will give more oomph than one large, ornate display in the same color.

15. Consider All of Your Elements.

The last, but most important, thing to remember when making your final choice: Not all colors are easy to wear, and you've got bridesmaids to dress.

-- Amy Keith

This post is from theknot.com, visit the website for lots more ideas and helpful hints!

One Stop Shop!

2010-06-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Get all your shopping done under one roof! We have it all...

Wedding dresses

Bridesmaids dresses

Tuxes

Flower Girls

Accessories-jewelry, shoes, headpieces, veils

Steaming

Napkins/ Linen rentals

Floral/Centerpieces/ Backdrops by Connie!

And many gifts for your wedding party or for the bride and groom!

New inventory... just arrived today

2010-06-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

We just revived new dresses from Claudine Bridal by Alyce Designs!

Here's a sneak peak...

Something to Think About.

2010-03-25T10:00:00.001-07:00

Today

I woke up early today, excited over all i get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill. I am important, ,y job is to choose what kinda of day I am going to have.

   Today: I can complain because the weather is rainy or... I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

   Today: I can feel sad that i don't have more money or... I can be glade that my finances encourage me to plan purchase wisely and guide me away from waste.

   Today: I can grumble about my health or... I can rejoice that I am alive.

   Today: I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me, when i was growing up or... I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

   Today: I can cry because roses have thorns or... I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

   Today: I can mourn my lack of friends or... I can embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

   Today: I can whine because i have to go to work or... I can shout for joy because i have a job to do.

   Today: I can murmur dejectedly because i have to do housework or... I can appreciate that i have a place to call home.

   Today: Stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. and here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. what today will be like, it up to me. I get to choose what kind of day i will have! Have a GREAT DAY! just remember, A "SMILE" will make the day go better .

Prom!

2010-03-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Know any Promer's??? Send them our way, we still have several great dresses in lots of different styles, colors, and sizes!

Cake Toppers

2010-03-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sick of looking at the same old cake toppers?? Check out this fun and unexpected cake toppers...

What's Your Proposal Style?

2010-03-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

This one is for your man...
Leave this post up on your computer, in just the right spot so that he will stumble upon it!!

Click on the link below and find your perfect proposal!

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-quiz/quizzes/whats-her-wedding-proposal-style.aspx

Newly Engaged?!?

2010-03-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

1.Set a Timetable
The first thing to consider is how long your engagement will be. This will depend on a couple of factors, such as your ideal wedding date and how much time you'll need to prepare. A typical engagement lasts anywhere from six months to a year and a half or more. If you got engaged during the holidays but always wanted a summer wedding, make sure you've got enough time to plan without making yourselves wedding-crazy, and keep in mind that many of the best vendors and reception sites book a year or more in advance.

2.Envision the Style
Your wedding style will be reflected first and foremost in the location, whether it's a luxe ballroom or an intimate backyard reception. Discuss with your fiance where your wedding will take place (in one of your hometowns or in the city where you currently live, for example), and then start scouting sites that can accommodate your wedding style. Use theknot.com/local to find reception venues in your area.

3.Set Your Budget
In the end, dollars, not dreams, are a main determining factor for the size and style of your wedding. So, what affects the price tag?
Formality: In general, the more formal the reception, the more expensive, considering you'll have to match the site, food, and decor to the overall upscale tone.
Date and time: Saturdays, summer months, and evenings tend to be the most costly times to have a reception.
Location: In many cases, a wedding in a major metropolitan area is simply more expensive than in a smaller town.
For interactive budgeting help, use our online wedding budget tool.

4.Determine a Date
Choosing a wedding date can be tougher than you'd think. There are a few things to consider: How much time will you need to prepare for your wedding? Do any loved ones having a conflicting graduation, vacation, or pregnancy due date? If you have your heart set on a particular place, caterer, band, or photographer, the availability of these crucial vendors may also play a large part in your decision. Try to avoid dates of big conventions or other events that draw large crowds, since that might make it harder for out-of-town guests to get hotel rooms. Find out more wedding dates to avoid here.
Once you've picked the date, start your wedding checklist for a to-do list of what to do when.

5.Announce Your Engagement
Call your local newspaper, your alumni magazine, and anywhere else you want your engagement announcement to appear. Find out the name of the appropriate editor or department and ask for the writer's guidelines or a standardized form, if available. Also, ask if there's a fee for publication. Here's what you need to know if you want to have an engagement photo session, plus a list of contacts for major newspapers.
You can also broadcast the news with a free wedding website.

6.Choose Your Attendants
It's time to honor your closest friends and family members by picking your wedding parties. Remember, the earlier you ask, the sooner you can enlist their help. (Here's help if you're not sure who to choose.) Keep in mind that your wedding party is agreeing to spend their hard-earned money and donate their precious time -- be considerate and kind by informing everyone about all your plans, showing them a good time, and making sure they know how much you appreciate them.

7.Make a Guest List
As you begin to build your guest list, you'll need to consider a number of factors. If you have a particular ceremony or reception site in mind, for instance, you're going to be limited by how many people it can accommodate (you can't squeeze 300 people into a lighthouse). Would you rather have one-on-one time with each guest or to throw a once-in-a-lifetime party for all your friends and family? If Mom and Dad are adamant about inviting throngs of friends and family, you'll have to hear them out -- especially if they're footing a major part of the bill. Obviously, the more relatives you must invite, the larger your list will be. And more guests means a bigger bill, as catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. So, in addition to location, your budget will have a big influence on the size of your guest list.
Create and manage your online wedding guest list.

8.Consider a Consultant
If you're a super-busy couple, hire a full-time wedding consultant to help you prepare your entire event, from the announcement to the honeymoon. You can also hire a part-time consultant to devise a wedding blueprint -- including budget, schedule, and lists of good vendor and site choices -- before you launch solo into the preparations. Another option is a day-of coordinator (which we definitely recommend), who will make sure everything goes as planned on your wedding day.
Find a consultant in your area with our local wedding vendor search.

9.Start Gown Shopping
It's never too early to begin thinking about your wedding dress. Start by figuring out which style will look best on you. How? Learn the lingo before stepping foot in a dress salon. Read up on silhouettes, necklines, trains, and hues that might flatter you. Season will also affect your choice. Getting married in the sweltering summer? Go with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, linen, or organza. Having a winter wedding? Brocade, faux fur, and velvet fabrics will keep you warm. Satin, shantung, silk, and tulle are perfect year-round.
Start your search now -- view 1,000s of wedding dress photos.
-- The Knot

Check out theknot.com for more great wedding planing tips!

Get Out your Calendars!

2009-12-17T10:25:00.001-08:00

Get Out your calendar, its time to save some very important date’s…

Mary Katherine's will be at the following upcoming bridal shows. We will have a booth with give always and models in the run way show!

The First show will be Sunday January 10^th 2010 at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in Des Moines. It will be from 10-3. The address is                  Everything" Bridal Show
                                             HyVee Conference Cente
                                             5820 Westown Parkway
                                             West Des Moines, IA

Mary Katherine’s will be on the runway show at one p.m

www.hyveeconferencecenter.com

The Second Show will be Sunday January 24^th 2010 at the Iowa Speedway Newton Club in Newton. This event will run from 1-4 with a run way show at 3!

Both of these shows will have several different vendors to visit with. There will also be cash prizes given away! The Hy-Vee show will be giving four 1,000 dollar cash prizes, and the Newton show will be giving one 1,000 dollar grand prize!

We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming shows! Be sure to stop by Mary Katherine’s to see what special offers we will be giving!

www.mapquest.com

New Bridal Line!

2009-10-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

We're are bringing in a new bridal line called "La Sposa"! Keep watching and we will let you know when the samples arrive!

New Bridesmaids Dresses from Alfred Angelo!

2009-10-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Come check out the new 2010 bridesmaids dresses from Alfred Angelo! We have a large selection of the sample dresses in various sizes and colors!

Check out the new printed dresses…

Visit the website to see the full collection! www.alfredangelo.com

Maggie Trunk Show November 12th – 14th!

2009-10-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

What is a trunk show?

Trunk Shows are exciting events where authorized Maggie Sottero retailers present the latest breathtaking styles. This fashion experience is an exciting and fun way to view our Maggie Sottero gowns from this current season!

Don’t forget if you place an order during the show you will receive a 10% discount up to $100 off!

Call now to make an appointment, slots are filling up fast! 641-753-0550