I love twitter because it hooks me up with fabulous people. I saw that @rzrachelzoe (aka Rachel Zoe celebrity stylist) was tweeting about Piper Lime. She picked out a pair of Calvin Klein heels, Persia, that are must haves for this summer and I think that they would be fabulous for a wedding.

Aren’t the heels on this shoe just SICK!?! At 3 3/4″ I don’t know if a bride could last in them all night but damn would they be killer in pictures and make you feel oh so sexy as you walk down the aisle. You can purchase them by clicking here.

When I was in New York I went by Claudia Hanlin’s The Wedding Library and I saw a little basket filled with SoleMates!  I was so excited because I’d heard about these fab little shoe accessories, but had never seen them in person.  Everyone I was with picked them up.  I just love them for a grassy meadow wedding… or on snow!  I’m going to test them out since there’s so much on the ground right now!

The SoleMates High Heeler prevents heels from sinking into grass and from falling into cracks on sidewalks, grates, cobblestones, bricks, wooden decks, etc.  Born out of personal necessity after years of ruined heels, the SoleMates High Heeler is ideal for weddings, outdoor events and everyday wear!

The SoleMates High Heeler is currently available in Classic Black and Classic Clear, both meant to fit on most classically styled heels (ranging from Nine West through Manolo Blahnik, kitten heels through stilettos).  The product is currently sold on the SoleMates website, as well as in various boutiques throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Have you seen the movie Blood Diamond?  Let’s just say that it wasn’t one of those that “I think I saw, but don’t really remember what it was about!”  The movie takes place in the 1990s, when diamond mining financed rebel fighting in places like Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The rebels kidnapped men and small boys and either forced them to mine the diamonds, or brainwashed them into becoming rebel soldiers themselves.  The movie was very disturbing and not easily forgotten… especially since it was based on a true story.

One estimate suggests that smuggled diamonds- called “conflict diamonds”- made up 10-15% of the global diamond market in the ’90s.  Drastic measures have since been taken to eliminate these practices, but how can you be sure that your diamond is conflict-free?

Shop smart.  Some retailers, like Brilliant Earth, specialize in conflict-free jewelry.  Otherwise, check for certification.  Any well-established, reputable jeweler should be able to tell you a diamond’s history and guarantee that it is conflict-free.  Feel like they are not telling you the truth?  Ask to see the diamond’s Kimberly Process certificate or System of Warranties statement.  To find out more about these certificates or see what they look like before you shop, visit DiamondFacts.org.

The good news?  Don’t expect to pay more.  There are many different factors that increase the price of a diamond, but being conflict-free certified should not be one of them.  By working with a jeweler that you feel you can trust, and by researching before you buy, you should feel good about yourself for doing your part and being a responsible diamond shopper!

Unless you’ve been to Europe lately, you may be wondering “What the heck is a birdcage veil?!”  Well, a birdcage veil is a small veil that is either pinned to the hair or attached to a small pillbox hat.  It only descends about halfway down the face, and it is made out of a diamond-shaped netting that was used in the early 19th century to embellish women’s hats.

A big trend in Europe for quite some time, the birdcage veil is starting to make its move into North America.  If you pay attention to the Hollywood trendsetters, you may have noticed that Katherine Heigl wore a birdcage veil for her 2007 wedding.  You also may have noticed one on Jessica Alba in the movie Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, or on Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama.

Birdcage veils go great with almost any dress or accessories- from contemporary to modern.  Take Crystal, for example.  I had this veil designed for her in Australia.  We then had her dress altered by a tear away, as their wedding was swing dance inspired.  You see, you can achieve almost any look you desire with a birdcage veil!

A great place to look if you are interested in incorporating a birdcage veil into your wedding wardrobe is Bride’s Head Revisited.  Using pearls, crystals, feathers, flowers and beads, they will work closely with you to design a veil that reflects and complements your personal style.  Their love of history and contemporary design help them create veils and accessories to complement ANY bride’s style! 

I am so excited to finally reveal the Jamah Bridal Purse Collection. Nancy Gale is the designer and she asked me to consult her as she designed her new bridal collection. The purses are amazing and I saw them for the first time when I was in L.A. I was joined by Alice Goetschel of WeddingsByAlice.com and Kim Horn of ArizonaBridalSource.com as we reviewed the purses.

 As brides are opting for unique weddings that highlight their personalities grooms are doing the same. Gone are the days of the polished black shoes for the groom and his groomsmen. You’ll see now that they are going for comfort. Converse shoes are becoming a big hit with wedding parties.

I was searching the web and found that there are some really cool pictures posted on flicker of groomsmen wearing converse shoes and other sneakers. You can even design your own pair of custom made chucks for the wedding day so all the groomsmen are matching and this could be a great gift idea as well! Just imagine the photos on your wedding day – what great memories!

For more cool groom ideas check out my husband’s ezine at www.gutsygroom.com

My assistant’s relative was recently married on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. The wedding was at the Novotel Resort and the ceremony was held on sand overlooking the water. The bridal party were all barefoot during the ceremony on the sand along with the majority of the guests. I think this is a great idea as sand can be quite a hassle when you get it in your shoes!

I was searching the net when I came across another idea to dress up getting married barefoot when I found ladybead (www.ladybead.com). This Californian based company offers a range of Austrian pearl and crystal foot jewelry for barefoot brides. The jewelry is custom made and they contain pearls and crystals. This is a great idea if you are planning a beach or barefoot wedding!

My friend on twitter itsajaimething is always finding cool things to blog about and she turned me onto these really cool umbrellas. These fabulous waterproof parasols are created by Bella Umbrella and have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine. They are a perfect bridesmaid gift and really pop in pictures. They would also be super cute to hand out to your guests to shade them from the sun instead of renting a big old tent. These umbrellas add whimsy and magic to a wedding day. I can just see a beautiful bride on a beach with a white ruffled parasol playing in the surf. What I really like about this company is that they also rent out the umbrellas that they have. So you don’t have to get stuck with hundreds of umbrellas after your day is over you can simply ship them back. Although I do forsee a problem with your guests loving them so much that they want to take them home. I think that these would be the ultimate favor gift. Do you remember the wedding in the movie Meet the Fockers? (The Ben Stiller sequel to Meet the Parents) Well they had the wedding reception outside and they hung hundreds of parasols to create an outdoor ceiling. I think that renting these parasols in various colors you could create that same look and really wow your guests. How fun!

Looking for a white clutch to carry your wedding day necessities? Look no further, Lord and Taylor’s Department Store has two of the most perfect little numbers. Their RHINESTONE BUCKLE CLUTCH and BEADED MINAUDIER CLUTCH are just big enough carry your lipstick, tissue, and compact while still looking stylish enough to complement your dress. Check them out Here!