Bridal Fashion by MILLE is on a Break.......

Due to the economy, my mother has decided to put Bridal Fashion by MILLIE to the side right now. She really needs to focus on the shop. Victoria Rose Bridal is still thriving... Thank goodness to my mother's smart business sense but definitely needs her full attention. So for now, Designing Millie is signing off....We'll be back soon!

Victoriarosebridal.com

My mom and her girls at the shop redesigned the Victoria Rose Bridal website. It looks absolutely fabulous. Don't you think?

I have finally convinced my mom to give me the reins on the Millie website and I will be redesigning that soon...I was hoping to get it done before my baby is due but it looks like it might have to wait a little longer....

http://www.victoriarosebridal.com/index.php

Inaugural Gown Inspiration

In light of last week's big inauguration, I thought we should take a look at some past First Lady inaugural gowns. It just so happened that I was in DC last weekend and ran into the American History Museum right before closing. I was really excited to go in because it has been closed for the past year and a half for renovations. Anyhow, the place looked amazing, and I ran to the second floor to take a peek at the First Lady section. I was a little disappointed at first because there weren't very many gowns, but I did manage to snap a couple photos. Please try to ignore the horrible flash photography.

Helen Taft's 1909 inaugural ball gown is the first gown showcased when you walk into the room. It is absolutely gorgeous (This photo does NOT do it any justice). It is made out of silk chiffon appliqued with floral embroideries in metallic thread and trimmed with rhinestones and beads. It was made by the Frances Smith Company. I could not believe how this gown sparkled!!!

The only other gown that inspired me wasn't actually an inaugural gown but an evening gown that Jackie O wore to a state dinner in 1961. The gown is made out of yellow silk with an overlay of crepe chiffon. Oleg Cassini designed it. I would wear this gown in a heartbeat!

I'm still so in love with the one-sided shoulder strap gown. I think it would make such a chic and classic bridal gown. I really want MILLIE to design one!

Golden Globe Red Carpet Inspiration

I finally had a chance to talk to my mom to get the skinny on what she thought of the Golden Globes (the poor thing has been so sick this winter). She was surprised at the lack of color compared to last year (I personally loved all the whites). She did mention she thought the skirt on Drew Barrymore's John Galliano's gown was beautiful.

I personally loved Kate Beckinsale's J. Mendel gown. So gorgeous. It reminds me of frosting. Yummy!

And just to prove how far bridal has come, one of the favorites of the night, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards was a gown from Reem Acra Spring Bridal collection.

By the way, if you're looking for some red carpet inspiration you have to check out the blog http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/ . She does a fabulous job!!!

Chicago Bridal Market

My mom just got back from the Chicago market last week. She sent me a few pictures of the MILLIE booth. This is our second time showing at a Bridal Market. With this economy it's hard to get retailers to try something new but my mom is determined!

Bridalfashionbymillie.com

I'm very excited about our new home page to the MILLIE website. I love this picture and cannot wait to see the rest of the new photos on the website!!!!

photography by Christy B. Anderson

Latest Bridal Fashion by Millie Design

So my mom has been back to the sketch pad lately...She has quite a few designs coming along...Here is one of my favorites. I like it a lot because it actually has a little cap sleeve....I think brides are ready for something besides strapless...

Bridal Fashion Photo Shoot

photography by Christy B Anderson

Well, we finally went back to Yorktown Beach and finished the rest of MILLIE's photo shoot last night. 10 dresses!!!! We almost ran out of light.......Christy grabbed this last shot of the night......Gorgeous! The dress is Tyla.

bridal fashion by MILLIE~ The Avery

photography by Christy B. Anderson

Here is MILLIE's latest fashion off the runway ~The Avery. A very simple gown but absolutely gorgeous. It's currently my favorite right now...it changes everyday... My mom has been working on some new designs. I'll post them soon.

Cover Girl

Kiersten, our MILLIE model was playing on photoshop and made this magazine cover. I thought it was too fun not to share. Some day...Some day.......

Bridal Photography ~ Christy B. Anderson

Yesterday we went down to Yorktown beach to do a MILLIE shoot. We have finally captured the image of MILLIE that I have been dreaming of.... Christy has done an amazing job and has put so much time and love into this. Thank you so much!!! I also want to thank our "Top Model".

She ROCKS!

Bridal Photography~ Christy B. Anderson

Last month Christy and I put together a fun photo shoot. We were able to work with Tracy Gilland and Lara Bridger (hair and make-up) from Urban Escape Salon and Day Spa and Event Planner, Margret Snead of Willow Manor. Our models, Kristen and Kiersten did a fantastic job and were great troopers braving the heat. Thank you all so much, it was a pleasure to work with all of you!

The two MILLIE gowns featured here are the Aurora and Emily .

Bridal Fashion Trends~ Birdcage Veil

I absolutely love the look of the birdcage veil. A trend I hope that sticks around for a while. I asked my mom to send me one for the MILLIE photo shoot this week. It is so classy. I love that it can be worn in many different ways. I can't wait to see it on our model.

photos from http://dallasbrides.wordpress.com/ and http://samanthaling.com/

Fashion Bride Interview with Judy Panozzo

Whoa....it's been a while uh?? Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town.

I wanted to share with you the interview Fashion Bride did with my mom. It was fun working with Serena Kally from Fashion Bride and we hope to work with her again. Hopefully when we get the new photos of the gowns she'll be able to post them on her site.

To read the interview please click here.

Vintage Wedding Inspiration

Our latest vintage inspiration comes from Betty Smith Conoley from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Betty was married in 1969 in Cortez, Colorado. Her mother, Cora Smith, made her dress. The gown featured 3/4 sleeves, a floor length A-line skirt and a jewel neckline. It was made of white satin and did not have a train.

I love the simplicity of her gown. She is a very sweet bride with her hair down, little ballet flats and a cute, shy smile. I can't explain how adorable they are....Don't you just want to hug them?

It was fun to hear my mom talk about the photo when she saw it. Knowing that her and Betty were married around the same time, it's fun for her to see what other brides were doing fashion-wise in the 1960's. Big, puffy dresses were the big trend at the time and she was very proud to say that her and Betty were very "fashion forward" to wear a more simple, elegant gown.

Fashion Bride

One of my favorite blogs these days is Fashion Bride. What an amazing resource for bridal gown collections. The author reigns from Bucharest, Romania, so I love to read her blog and see what is going on in the other part of the world. The photographs of the bridal collections that she posts are fantastic and gives me much inspiration and ideas for photographing MILLIE gowns.

We were extremely honored to be asked and are currently in the process of doing an interview with Fashion Bride. Be sure to check in and see what my mom has to say about the business! Should be fun! Thank you Fashion Bride!

More MILLIE in Roma

How fun are these shots??? I'm so getting a Stevie Nicks vibe.....What do you think? Love it!

Denise Andersen Photography

MILLIE in ROMA

MILLIE has sailed over seas and has landed in Italy.....Can you believe it? (For the full story please click here.)

How fun is this? I can't wait to see more of Denise Andersen's work (who happens to be That Bride's mom). It's a very dramatic shot, and I'm loving it!

Bellissimo~

Jenna Bush Wedding

FINALLY! A picture of the gorgeous Oscar de le Renta gown Ms. Henry Hager (Jenna Bush) wore for her wedding nuptials on May 10, 2008.

She wore a v-neck, beaded organza gown. Though I was surprised she went with a lot of beading, she seems to pull it off nicely and the style of the dress fits the curves of her body just right. Another surprise would be that she didn't wear a veil????

It looked like a small, simple, family-orientated yet elegant wedding. Like I said before, she very well could have been a MILLIE bride.

On a side note, Designing MILLIE received 800 hits yesterday! Wondering why in the world?? I did a bit of research and realized when someone looks up "Jenna Bush Wedding Gown" on Google Images the sketch of the gown my mother designed for Jenna appears....Please read my post about Jenna Bush's Wedding Gown to find out what this sketch was all about!

Shindigz Wedding Extravaganza Contest

That's right, Ladies- FREE STUFF!!! Over at Shindigz they're having a little give-away contest....

Ten lucky winners will be chosen each month to receive one of the following fabulous wedding prizes:

200 personalized beverage napkins

200 personalized bubbles

Personalized glassware for your wedding party

Guest book

Silver plated knife and server set

Click here for more details!

Christy B. Anderson Photography

Let me introduce you to MILLIE's new photographer~ Christy B. Anderson. A random story......I was at my daughter's softball practice one day and started talking to one of the other moms...She just so happened to be a photographer and when I saw her work, I knew instantly God had sent me an angel. Her talent and skill amaze me, and I'm so excited to work with her.

She came over to the house yesterday to "play". We're still figuring some things out, but we wanted to get started and see what we had to work with. The gorgeous model's name is Kristen, a friend of Christy's, and she did a fantastic job. I wanted to thank both of them, and I can't wait to "play" again!

More photos coming soon.......

That Bride

YEA!!! That Bride received her MILLIE box on Thursday and do you know that crazy girl sent me the cutest email and pictures that day??!! That's what I love about her....her enthusiasm for life! I love it! I have to share the pictures and a snippet of her email.......
Millie,
The dress came today! It's so amazing, and I swear it's hanging on the closet door laughing at me because there is no one around to help me try it on. I even tried putting it on by myself, but that is kind of impossible. I am going over to this girls house tonight, so hopefully she will have time to help me put it on and take pictures so I can post what it looks like on. I didn't know that you would be sending it in Ivory, I am so obsessed with it! Such a great surprise. I always thought that I would be this really picky bride who went through thousands of dresses, but I am so in love with this dress, there is a good chance I won't want to send it back!

When I opened the pictures my jaw dropped!! I couldn't believe how gorgeous she looked...I mean, the dress fits her like a glove!! I was so worried she might not like it or it wouldn't fit....(Worrying is such a waste of time, isn't it?) The best part is she was so excited she didn't care if her hair was done or if she had any make-up on. Gotta love it! It's so much fun to see a MILLIE on a real live bride!! (Not living in Colorado, I only get to go to the store a couple times a year, if I'm lucky, so my experience with MILLIE Brides are few and far between... That's why I love the Internet!)

For That Bride's side of our little story, please check out her great post here. She's having a tough time deciding on which MILLIE bolero (Yes! my mom designs awesome boleros as well) goes best with the Aurora. I actually think they both work...it would just depend on what time of day and where you would be getting married...so for this photo shoot it's kind of hard...Outdoors in Italy....Hmmm?? What do you think?

please click on photos to enlarge

MILLIE on The Knot!

Like Jenny from the Block~ MILLIE is on The Knot!! Oh YEAH!

The Knot wasn't around when I got married, so it took me awhile to figure out how much it had to offer.....WOW! I so would have died for something like this when I got married. So many resources right at your finger tips! I'm curious what you girls think about The Knot!? Do you use it? Do you like it? Inquiring minds want to know!?

Wedding Week on the Food Network

My always inspired mother-in-law (Yes! There are great ones out there!) called me up on Monday to tell me they are doing a wedding theme on the Food Network this week. Oma (my M.I.L.) and Grandma D (G.I.L.) are Food Network addicts.....I'll admit....cooking is not my thing but maybe one day it will be?? It's always fun to watch though and maybe get a little inspired?

It looks like there will be some great shows.....I've watched Ace of Cakes before and I love it!! Be sure to catch his wedding week special on Thursday at 10 pm/9c.

That Bride

Don't you just love a great story about how two people met? Like how you met your husband in high school or how you and your best friend hated each other before becoming BFF??? Yeah, I think this new friendship with That Bride and MILLIE will be a story we will always remember.

During my midnight blog searching, I had come across a new bride called That Bride. I immediately fell in love with her spirit. So when I read about her ordering a $40 bridal gown off of Ebay for a bridal shoot in Roma...(her mother is a photographer) I knew I had to help! So with this comment our friendship began;

"I SO would have let you borrowed a MILLIE gown..."

She responded quickly and before I knew it, we had a deal and I'm sending her the Aurora. Yep, I've never met her and I completely trust her....I know it sounds crazy, but I think it's going to be so much fun!!! I can't wait to see her in the dress and see MILLIE in Europe! It's going to be FAB-U-LUS! Stay tuned!!!!

Who is this chic named MILLIE????

Okay, after I read the always inspirational Perfect Bound's response to my "6 things about you" tag (Thank you for responding and the link!) I realized first, I totally cheated and number two, how come I can't be that creative??? It's not fair for one person to have that much creativity...Share the love Perfect Bound, share the love!!! Seriously, I really love that woman...I mean, I think we were separated at birth...It must be an Italian thing?? I'll work on my list; until then, here's a little ditty about MILLIE.

You might be shocked, but my name is not MILLIE....This is MILLIE with her three girls; my mom, Judy, is the oldest.

Mildred Shrum to be exact, is my grandmother and my mother's inspiration for the name of her bridal gown collection, 'bridal fashion by MILLIE'. In fact, all of the gowns are named after special women in my mother's life. Kinda sweet huh!?? The granddaughters get a kick out of it!

As you may have guessed, we are extremely family-oriented...Family always comes first. My mother, Judy Panozzo (and may I say she is amazing?), gave birth and raised 7 beautiful children...yes 7 (I'm the baby). Being a go-getter..she not only stayed home and raised her kids, but she always had something going on the side....if it wasn't "Desserts by Judy" she was selling beauty products and if she wasn't selling beauty products she was cutting someone's hair....The list goes on... To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how many jobs she has had. Her motivation and determination might make one sick..... Tell me, why do some people have it and some people don't?

I could write a whole book about my mother, but I won't keep you here all day.... I think this will be a new label.....WHO IS MILLIE? We'll start off slowly... Have a good one and think positive!

Blogging ~ MILLIE Style

{image from peoniesandpolaroids & eastsidebride photography by kamphotography.com}

Okay.....I need to stop trying so hard and just write......Having a business blog is so much different than a family blog. I'm very new to the blogging world; I started a family blog two years ago, and then all of a sudden one day I woke up and said, "I'm going to start a blog for my mom's business!" I call these "Manic Millie Moments"...they come and go....one day I'm full of inspiration and the next day I'm wondering what the *BEEP* was I thinking??? AHHH! (I actually sign my emails to my sister, who is my editor-in-chief... she's an English teacher-go figure, MM, for Manic Millie HA!). She thinks I'm crazy, but she still keeps helping me and thank goodness for that because I would not even attempt this blog if I didn't have her for back-up. She is not only my sounding board but my BFF. Thank you Sista!!!

I'm truly obsessed. I love the whole blogging world. The networking possibilities are amazing to me. There is so much potential here.....but you have to do it right.....I have so much to learn!!! (The Smart Planner is another new BFF of Millie's right now.) I'm so obsessed with it being "professional" that I'm not being me....."Houston, we have a problem." So I have a couple new mission statements for MILLIE;

1. "If you build it, they will come." I have to believe this for my mother's sake. I truly believe in her and her bridal gowns and I'm her #1 fan. Just relax, it will happen.

2. Think positive, be inspired, and be me! Write from your heart...don't worry if it's going to show up in the Google search....Just write.

So there it is...a fresh start......ahhhh........ It always feels so good to start fresh! I implore change!

Blog on!

HOUSE OF BRIDES

Let me introduce you to MILLIE's new BFF....... {a little snip it from their site}

House of Brides

House of Brides is the oldest bridal name in America. We were established in 1929 and have since grown to 6 huge brick-and-mortar stores in Illinois. House of Brides offers everything for your Wedding, all 30% - 40% off retail prices. As a large retail chain selling Worldwide in volume, we can offer our customers the same designer collections they find at more expensive bridal shops for incredibly lower prices! All Wedding Dresses are completely free shipping within the continental U.S. at House of Brides. Shipping is free for Bridesmaid Dresses when 2 or more dresses are shipped to the same continental U.S. address. Plus, there’s NO charge for sales tax!
Order online with House of Brides.com and join the thousands of satisfied customers we have been serving for 79 years!

Coming soon to an Internet near you....bridal fashion by MILLIE on House of Brides

Oooooohhhh....... I can feel it now.......Watch out world- here we come!!!!

On Friday morning my mom called with wonderful news. House of Brides found MILLIE on The Knot and they want to sell our dresses on their website!!!! YEA!!!!!!!! This is so exciting for us..... My mom has been so busy with the shop that we haven't been able to invest the necessary time to get MILLIE off the ground and into cyberspace~ A true answer to our prayers.

{I need to take my daughter to school right now......I'll come back later today and introduce you to HOUSE OF BRIDES...(Being a Mom comes first, right? Ha!)

Vintage Wedding Inspiration ~ Grace Kelly

{image from dcnearlyweds.com, photography by Howell Conant and Life Magazine}

On the eve of the 52nd wedding anniversary (The civil ceremony was on April 18, 1956, the formal ceremony was the next day.), I thought it would be most appropriate to highlight our most beloved American actress, Grace Kelly.

Helen Rose , the wedding gown designer and MGM costume designer thought the formal gown should reflect the actress' personality—"simple but elegant, feminine, ladylike but not necessarily regal," and that Miss Kelly's dress should "not overpower her beauty." (very smart advice for all brides if you ask Millie). The famous wedding dress has a high neck, long-sleeved bodice and was made out of Brussels lace. The "bell-shaped" silk faille skirt has no folds in front, but is heavily pleated in back; three petticoats and a 14-inch long skirt. (How did she move?)

The headpiece was also made of rose point lace and decorated with a wreath of delicate wax orange blossoms,(Jackie O had orange blossoms?) leaves fashioned from tiny pearls, and wired lace motifs. The circular veil was also embellished with rose point lace motifs, including two tiny lovebirds, and accented with seed pearls. Her prayer book and shoes were also encrusted with lace and seed pearls.

I'm loving all the tiny details on the whole wedding ensemble, and how about those tiny, delicate buttons up the front of the dress? I love buttons! Though, I'm not sure how comfortable this dress was- long sleeves are usually so uncomfortable. She wore it well and the style became a huge hit in the bridal fashion world during that time.

If you have a little time, you have to watch these!!! Can you image your wedding being covered like this??? Crazy!!!

Jenna Bush Wedding Details

According to the Washington Post, Jenna will wear a "simple and elegant" gown by Oscar de la Renta. The gown is made of organza with embroidery, matte beading, and a small train. But don't expect any pictures they say....her man Henry is a traditionalist and doesn't want to see the dress before she walks down the aisle (gotta love an old-fashioned kind of guy!).

Jenna will have 14 attendants (or "house party" if you're a Texan), and they will be wearing short chiffon, Lela Rose dresses in green, blue, yellow, and lavender (pictured above).

Can't wait to see more details about the wedding in the next issue of Vogue magazine.

TAG

I've been tagged by the adorable Style-ish.

RULES:
1) you link back to the person who tagged you. {link above}
2) post these rules on your blog.
3) share six things about yourself.
4) tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5) let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs

My 6 random facts about Millie:

1) My mother started Bridal Fashion by Millie in 2007.
2) Millie is named after my grandmother, Mildred Shrum.
3) All of the gowns are named after special women in my mom's life.
4) There are 10 gowns in the collection.
5) A Millie gown only costs between $500 and $700.
6) You can purchase a Millie gown on the Internet.

I tag:
1) Creature Comforts
2) Peonies and Polaroids
3) Black Eiffel
4) Perfect Bound
5) Style me Pretty
6) Blue Orchid Designs

Hot Off the Press @ WWD.com ~ Oscar Designing Bush Wedding Gown

Monday, April 14, 2008
By Rosemary Feitelberg with contributions by Bobbi Queen
NEW YORK — First Daughter Jenna Bush is not expected at Oscar de la Renta's bridal fashion show today, and for good reason: The designer has already created the long wedding gown she'll wear for her May 10 nuptials to Henry Hager at the Bush family's Crawford, Tex., ranch.

Ahhhh...... so she didn't pick a Millie wedding gown but at least she has some good taste. Gotta love Oscar!

Expert Advice

{"A bride should treat the purchase of her wedding gown

as an investment. It is the strongest representation of a

woman's personal style she'll ever have~ not to mention

the most important dress she'll ever wear."}

~ Oscar de la Renta

Have you grabbed your latest spring edition of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine yet? Fabulous as always...... a super interview with Oscar de la Renta on page 180. He gives a lot of great advice on how to choose the perfect wedding gown. I loved his response when asked, "What would you say to someone who is hesitant to splurge on her wedding dress?" Now, I realize he's a designer and his job is to sell wedding gowns, but his quote not only comes off as a great advertisement- it really has some truth to it!

I've been struggling with the idea of buying your wedding gown from "Wal-Mart" type of stores....Why would someone want to buy their wedding gown from there? Isn't anything sacred anymore?? I have a friend who just ordered two "Wal- Mart" dresses. When I asked about the quality, her fiance and her said at the same time, "Who cares? You're only going to wear it once." Hmmmmm...... Okay, so this is the mentality of buying your wedding gown??

I'm not saying you need to spend thousands to have a quality gown. A big reason why my mom started designing Millie is because she wanted to offer a quality gown without having to spend a month's salary on it. I know it's hard to spend a lot of money on something you only wear once, but it's your wedding day. You can wear "Wal-Mart" everyday of the year but please...not on your wedding day.

Princess Bride

{images from showbizz.cbs.com}

What little girl didn't want to be a princess one time or another in her life? If I had to pick the most famous wedding gown, I would have to say Princess Diana's wedding dress would win. I've never seen so much information about one lonely wedding frock. There are tons of photos, news segments, and even a book dedicated just to the gown itself. Amazing.....

According to the IcWales.co.uk, Elizabeth Emanuel (Diana's wedding gown designer) just came out with her own high-street wedding dress collection. It's everything you would expect from the Princess's designer- frilly, puffy, and full of romance. Not exactly Millie bride material, but if you dreamed of looking like Cinderella on your wedding day you might enjoy these fairytale styles.

Here is a taste of a few of the more simplified gowns from Elizabeth Emanuel's collection~

{images from elizabethemanuel.co.uk.}

Bridal Fashion Trends ~ Short and Sweet

{Click photo to enlarge}

At a booming 5"3, I really like the short wedding dress trend that is walking the runway right now. With my legs probably being my most slimming feature, I think it would make sense to show them off a little??? It's definitely not for your traditional bride but if you were going casual, I would think this style would be fitting. Loving the '50's inspired dress from the Vineyard Collection.

{images from instyleweddings.com, gown 1. priscilla of boston 2. anne barge 3. vineyard collection}

Beyonce and Jay-Z Wedding

{image from people.com}

Rumor has it that Beyonce and Jay-Z finally tied the knot. A lot of gossip out there; still no photos yet. I can't wait to see her dress!! Did she go white? Did she go sparkle all over?? A couple gossip columns have reported that Beyonce loved Hilary Swank's 2005 Guy Laroche Oscar gown so much she bought one in white?! Was it truly her wedding dress?? We'll have to wait and see.....

{image from about.com}

A Splash of Color on your Wedding Day

{the Isabella gown from bridalfashionbymillie.com}

One thing that has stayed relatively "sacred" in the world of wedding dresses is color. It's all about white or ivory; however, more and more women are using color as an accent to their overall look. Many opt for colored sashes or ribbons that either matches their bridesmaids or reflects their personal style. A dash of color certainly adds flavor to the traditional white!

April Fools!

My sister found this on Wedding Wire....HA! HA! So cruel!

Wedding Shells

I went to Busch Gardens last week and fell in love with this chandelier I found in one of the little shops in the French village of Aquitaine (if you want a taste of Europe but don't have the time or money, check out Busch Gardens, Williamsburg). The guy let me take a quick picture, but he didn't know what kind of shells they were (it wasn't for sale). They were very thin shells and reflected the light so beautifully.....I'm sure they're super expensive, but I must find them!!

I could so see some Avant-garde dress with a skirt made out of these shells......Soooo cool but impractical of course.....But maybe some sort of embellishment?.....Straps? Ooooooh.....How cool would that be for a destination wedding dress?????

Vintage Wedding Inspiration

To continue with the old wedding photo inspiration idea, I thought I would dig into the old shoe boxes this week..... Can you guess who this is? It's my mom and dad!! Okay, so I know I'm a little bias, but how gorgeous are they?

The story behind the wedding dress you ask?? The last time my mother saw the dress, it was in the attic next to my dad's hunting clothes...about 27 years ago. When we moved from Michigan to Colorado in 1981, the hunting clothes made it but no wedding dress????? This is certainly an on-going dispute in the Panozzo household. Ha!

The dress was made with white silk and featured a boat neckline, three-quarter sleeves with a sheath skirt and detachable train. It also had a lace panel running down the front. My mother said it only cost her $150.00!!!! (Remember folks, it was 1966...those were the days eh?)

I'm digging the sheath skirt with the detachable train idea. It's a trend that comes and goes.....I would think this would be ideal for a destination wedding........ Do you think Oscar is feelin' it too?

{image from Martha Stewart Weddings, Gown is a Oscar de le Renta}

Palazzo ~ Couture Bridal Fashion

My maiden name is Panozzo.....So we gotta give some love to Palazzo. Absolute love.

Palazzo (meaning "Palace" in English) is a couture label out of Chicago, launched in 1997 by ready-to-wear designers Jane and Saeed Hamidi.

They get an A+ for photography and design- loving their crisp, fresh style... Some major design inspriation here for Millie.

Bridal Fashion Photography ~ Rodney Smith

{photos by Rodney Smith}

My true love is photography. That is what 'sparked' me to Millie. My mother was spending so much money on photography and not getting the results she wanted. She is determined to offer her brides photos with good detail of the gowns (it drives her crazy in the bridal magazines when you can't see the fine detail on the dress). The problem is when you focus on the fine detail, you tend to lose the artistic image. My quest is to create a beautiful image without losing the fine detail. Is it possible??? I'm not sure.....but I'm going to try.

Looking for inspiration, I turned to the blogging world. Two of my favorite "Inspirational Blogs" are Black Eiffel and Perfect Bound. They both have mentioned the photographer Rodney Smith. So I had to go check him out.....and yes, he is amazing. I absolutely love his style. This is my kind of photography- real simple but 'oh so' chic which I feel is very Millie. Millie is also youthful, fun, and bold so we could go bright and colorful, too. Hmmmm........ so many choices...What do you think?

Vera Wang

Tonight on Conversations with Michael Eisner, there will be a fashion industry special edition featuring a two-part interview with fashion designers Vera Wang and Kenneth Cole.

(Vera Wang tells Michael about the most expensive gown she's ever designed, and you won't believe who it was for! "I think all in all there were 18 tiers, so it was really probably far and away the most expensive and time-consuming." >>Watch Video Vera Wang talks about her other passion. >>Watch Video)

Be sure to watch CNBC tonight at 9P/12A ET

{image from verawang.com}

Jenna Bush Wedding Gown

So you've probably heard by now that the First Twin, Jena Bush, is getting married in May. Not too long ago, they announced it would NOT be a White House wedding. Though I was disappointed to hear that at first (how fun would it be to see a White House wedding?), I absolutely love the fact that she is a good ole' country girl and would prefer to have a beautiful, outdoor, private wedding at her parents' ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Knowing this much, I'm going to go out on a limb and say she very well could be a Millie Bride. My Mom thought it would be fun to design a wedding dress for her. I absolutely love it and can't wait to see the final design. Are you a Millie bride?

Outdoor Wedding Blog

I wanted to mention our friend Kim Knox Beckius at Outdoor Wedding (okay, I haven't really met her, but anyone who talks nice about Millie is a friend:) Back in January, she did a post about us. We were so excited to be featured on her blog. Thank you so much!

Kim Knox Beckius is the author of The Everything Outdoor Wedding Book and is Senior Writer for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine. If you're planning or thinking about having an Outdoor Wedding, this is the place to start!

Which Bride Wears it Best?

My Sunday morning ritual is to get the paper and read the wedding page first. I love that the Richmond Times-Dispatch still does HUGE wedding & engagement announcements (where they list every little detail....back in Colorado they don't do this anymore). So when I opened my paper yesterday, I was surprised to see the first three brides all wore a Mantilla veil. Hmmm...interesting??? Only Bride # 2 mentioned that her veil was worn by two of her aunts, also from Richmond. I'm wondering about Bride number 1 and 3??

My mother wore a Mantilla veil, which was extremely popular in the '60's. Are they making a comeback? I love the sentiment of wearing your mother's veil (or a family member's). I would think this would be a lot easier than trying to wear their dress...One size fits all? Right? The only problem is.......this type of veil doesn't go with every gown. You would definitely have to go with a simple gown or one with only lace.

So I ask you- Which bride do you think wears it best? Bride number 1, 2, or 3?

Millie Wedding Gowns

I just received my "Millie" box in the mail yesterday. OOOOOhhhhh!! I can't begin to explain the beauty of these gowns. I had only seen Emily and Aurora on the website... and let me tell you, the photos on the web do not come close to showing you the quality and construction of these beautiful dresses. I took a couple, quick snapshots to try to show you (click on photo to enlarge)...I'll be working on the photography soon.

Also coming soon, I'll be starting a new mini-series called- "Millie Spotlight" (A take-off from the Unveiled -Designer Spotlight - Bridal Fashions by Millie). I'll be going through each Millie gown and giving you a more detailed description and more detailed photos (there is a lot of information on the website already). I know it's hard to order a gown over the Internet without seeing it. Hopefully this will help.

New Millie Wedding Gowns

Three new Millie gowns! Mallory, Toni, and Jessica. They won't be on the website for a little while, so I thought I would give you a sneak peak.

We've had the hardest time with photography. It's really hard to get good detail on a white dress and not completely lose the overall 'image'..... These photos, I'm afraid, do not do the gowns justice! Any photographers out there with suggestions??

Check It Out!!!

Designing Millie was featured on "Unveiled" today- A bridal blog society where all wedding related blogs can be listed. Yea!!! The "Unbride" started this new blog last week and I jumped on the opportunity to be listed, never expecting her to do a feature on us!!! So sweet of her. I knew I liked her from the very beginning....(Yes, I'm a confessed bridal blog stalker. Ha!)

Check it out baby!!!! Designer Spotlight - Bridal Fashions by Millie

Jackie O Inspiration

Being an extremely nostalgic person, I absolutely love old wedding photos. I'm not quite sure what it is.......I just can't get enough of them. I thought it might be fun to go down memory lane every now and then and try to find some true inspiration.

I thought we would start off with one of the most iconic brides there ever was....Ms. Jackie O. Ohhhhh how I love thee! Truly, one of my favorites- A fashion icon my mother and I can talk about for hours (I love how my mom talks about her like she was an old girlfriend from high school....I swear she knows every story).

The story goes that Jackie didn't even like her wedding gown. Supposedly, the Kennedy's picked it out for her. It was made with 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta and took more than two months to make. The designer was Ann Lowe, an African-American dress-maker. The dress featured a portrait neckline and bouffant skirt decorated with interwoven bands of tucking and tiny wax flowers.

Jackie wore her grandmother’s heirloom rose point lace veil, attached to her hair with a small tiara of lace and traditional orange blossoms. She also wore a single strand of family pearls, a diamond leaf pin, which was a wedding present from Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, and a diamond bracelet the groom had presented to her the evening before the wedding. She carried a bouquet of white and pink spray orchids and gardenias.

Do you think it was a coincidence that I wore a cathedral veil and my mother's bridal bouquet was gardenias??? I think not.

{information about the gown from John F. Kennedy Library and Museum }

{image from Dailyville's photos on Flickr}

Here's a better picture of her actual gown. The gown was on display at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the September 12, 1953 wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Who's That Girl?

I wanted to get something straight- This picture is not me.....even though I sometimes wonder what it would feel like to be a hot blond!!?? Sorry to disappoint.....This is actually Meghan, one of our old managers from the shop. She happened to do some modeling in the past and used to be our 'Millie' model.

The dress she is wearing is Tyla, which was from last years' spring collection. My Mom was thinking about bringing it back..... What do you think?? Do we love it?

P.S. Designing Millie has just been added to "Unveiled". The new bridal blog society where all wedding-related blogs will be listed. I'm so excited to be part of this. So much fun!!

Unity Candle Part II- The Story Behind the Picture

After I posted the picture yesterday, I realized it was kind of funny because I'm the only one lighting the Unity Candle (yep, that's me!). My mom and sister thought I better tell the story-

If I have any good wedding tips to give from my own experience, it would be to make sure you dig out the wick of your Unity Candle before the ceremony. Ha! I'm not sure how long it took us to light our candle, but it felt like ETERNITY! We could NOT get the candle to light. I finally took the matter in my own hands and lit the sucker (leave it to the woman to get it done, right? Ha! Ha!)! I remember jokingly asking Father while we were trying to light the candle if it was a "Sign"? Later, at the reception, someone came up to me and told me they couldn't believe I had said that during the ceremony. HA! That makes me laugh now thinking about it.... Ironically, not giving up on the Unity Candle truly represents our marriage today. We've been married for 10 years now; we've had our ups and downs like every marriage, but we never give up!

Unity Candle

{photo by Chad Mahlum}

The Purpose

The Unity Candle is a symbol of the individuals joining together in marriage to form one unit. Individual wants and needs still exist, but the good of the whole must be considered. A new edifice is created which is stronger for the combining. When this ceremony is added, it can give emphasis to the commitment and add drama to your service.

The Ceremony

The Unity Candle consists of two tapered candles representing the bride and groom and a large pillar candle that is lit from the tapers at the end of the ceremony to represent the two have become one. Some couples prefer to use colored sand and mingle into one. There is usually a song during this time. Since the lighting finishes before the song ends, it is best to add more to the ceremony.

Some couples will go to the Mother-of-the-Bride and present a single flower stem and an embrace and then to the Mother-of-the-Groom. It allows the parents the first opportunity to congratulate the couple and also includes family as being very important to the couple.

Another option is to have the marriage certificate on the altar and have the Best Man, Maid of Honor, the officiate, and the couple sign during this time. This allows the guests to be witnesses and gives a sense of completion.

A Wedding Blog for the Real Bride- Designing Millie

TAA DAH!!! Here she is, the new blog title...... DESIGNING MILLIE (sorry for the short delay- I was trying to have a new header to go along with the new title, but that's going to take awhile).

I did a little poll on my family blog, and the winner was clearly Designing Millie. My mom actually thought of it, so I'm really glad it won. I also like it a lot because it will stand out from the other million and one wedding blogs. As soon as I jumped on the "Wedding Blog Express", I realized that all this world needed was ANOTHER wedding blog. But, I also noticed something was missing from all these beautiful, inspirational wedding blogs... Don't get me wrong; I love these blogs as much as the next girl. I could drool all over these 'picture perfect' wedding images all day long, but I was looking for something more....

Are we forgetting what the wedding is really all about? It's so easy to get lost in this BBB (Big Bridal Business) world. I'm not even a bride and got sucked into it. I really feel for these girls; it's so hard not to feel the pressure of putting on some fabulous rock star wedding.

This weekend I talked to one of my dearest friends who is getting married in August (the Miranda is her favorite). She has opted to do the destination wedding instead of the hometown wedding like she had originally planned. She explained to me how expensive it was going to be and how there was no way she could live up to what society was expecting these days. All she wanted was to get married in the church with a full mass. That's all she cares about (oh yea, she needs a dress too. Ha!). So they have decided to have a small wedding in Mexico at this beautiful Catholic Mission. Believe it or not, it's going to save them a lot of money. Now, I understand why the destination wedding is becoming so popular.

The more I thought about this, the more it made sense to me. Less is more. My Mom always says all you really need is a man and something to wear to have a wedding! Ha! Funny but true and exactly what Millie is all about- simple yet elegant and it's not going to cost you a fortune.

It's going to be tough to tie fashion and virtues into this BBB world. Almost sounds like an oxymoron these days. But I truly believe there is a connection. My challenge is going to be how to reveal this connection in a way that is interesting yet still helpful.....Hmmmm.... You'll have to keep reading to find out!

Say Yes to the Dress

I have to say Friday nights are my favorite for watching TV. Say Yes to the Dress and What not to Wear are my favorites!!!! Guilty pleasures I suppose, but I can't help it! I was looking on the TLC website and found that Stacy and Clinton had a "Wedding Spectacular" episode. Did any of you see it??? It looked like a great show. Click on the link to get some great tips. Don't forget to watch tonight, and we'll talk on Monday.........I'll be revealing my new blog title!!!(Drum roll pleeeaase!!!!)

Wedding Bee

What a great blog for brides!!! Your own little "Beehive" where brides can "Buzz" all they want with other "Buzzing Bees". Mrs. Bee (the founder) was definitely on to something when she was getting married and created this "Buziful Blog". If you want ideas and other bride's opinions, this is a great site! (How's that for linkage? Ha!)

I'm quickly discovering that the posts on wedding dresses are the most popular. Last night, a guest blogger did a great post asking for some help on finding her wedding gown. I couldn't believe the response she got. So many opinions! How in the world is she going to decide?

My mom often talks about brides in her shop and how quickly they can get confused (I have witnessed several "Confusearilla Brides"). It really is a tough choice for brides these days. So many gorgeous gowns...and of course, you want to try them ALL on! "BIG mistake, HUGE!" (Pretty Woman). I know it's so tempting to try every last wedding gown on, but this will be a step in the wrong direction...Trust me!! It will only make you more confused.

Here are a few quick tips to help you decide on your wedding gown:

1. Look at bridal magazines and on the internet to get ideas of current styles that you love.


2. Remember, not every style you love is going to flatter your body shape, so go for what you feel and look the best in. Trust your intuition- it's okay to ask others for their opinions, but how you feel in the gown is more important than what anyone else thinks.


3. A well-constructed gown will flatter your body and will not require a long-line bra or extra crinoline. Be wary of knock-offs....You get what you pay for.


4. Find a good seamstress that is experienced in bridal alterations.


5. Once you've bought your gown, stop looking!!

If you have more questions and want to ask Millie for some more advice about your wedding gown, please feel free to leave a comment.

A Wedding Gown with Confidence

I saw this commercial on Sunday during the Academy Awards and loved it! I realize it's an American Express commercial but couldn't help relating to the designer, Diane Von Furstenberg. It's wonderful watching a bride try on a Millie wedding gown and seeing her face light up- knowing that the feel and fit of that dress is fulfilling her dream of being happy and beautiful. There is something to be said about self confidence. I agree, self confidence should come from within. But isn't it true when you find that one piece of clothing that fits you perfectly....does it not make you feel like a Supermodel??

I loved my wedding gown, but it didn't fit great (this was before my mom started designing). When my sister got married, six months after me (my poor parents!), I remember being envious of my sister's gown. It wasn't a dress that would have looked good on me, but it fit her like a glove.... and she knew it. My sister is gorgeous anyway, but that day she looked like she stepped straight out of Brides Magazine. It wasn't because of the makeup, jewelry, or hair. It wasn't because of the actual dress. It was because of the way the dress made her feel. When something fits good, it makes you feel good.

I could get so much deeper on this topic. Of course, you're already going to feel wonderful because you're marrying the man of your dreams. And of course, that should be where your self confidence comes from on the day you get married. I get that 100%. But I will be the first to admit, when I look good, I feel that much better. Call it whatever you want.....I just call it how I feel it.

Millie's Favorite Red Carpet Gowns

[images from http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/]

After some more blog searching (Red Carpet Fashion Awards) and talking to my mom, we have narrowed it down to two favorites. My mom's favorite of the night was Jennifer Garner's Oscar de la Renta - a black gown made out of silk taffeta. My favorite was Kerri Russel's Nina Ricci gown - a very simple gown but I loved how the bodice fit (Probably helps that she's a size 0. Must be nice.....Ha!).

Red Carpet Inspiration?

[images from http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/]

I haven't talked to my mother yet to see what she thinks, but I wanted to quickly post some photos while the topic is still hot. I have to admit, I wasn't extremely impressed. When talking to my mom yesterday, she had mentioned there wasn't much to be inspired about from last year's red carpet. I'm really interested to see if she was 'moved' by any of the designs from last night....The obvious trends were red, purple, feathers, and one shoulder strap (Hmm....interesting? I wore a one shoulder strap gown several years ago to an Army Ball). Which ones do we like?

GJ Bridal Parlor Owner Launches her own Wedding Dress Line

We were very excited about making the newspaper last month. My mother has been getting a lot of publicity from it. In the world of technology, it's a wonder how the newspaper is still effective. Check it out: GJ Bridal Parlor Owner Launches her own Wedding Dress Line .

Bridal Gown Inspiration

WOW! I find it simply amazing that Vera Wang doesn't even have to use a model to advertise her dress. Truly a piece of art. Millie loves to get inspiration from high fashion couture labels such as Vera Wang. We also love to watch the Red Carpet for the latest on celebrity fashion. Be sure to watch the Oscars on Sunday, February 24th and tell us what you think!

[image from Brides magazine]

A True Designer Gown for the REAL Bride's Budget

Sure, any girl would love an Oscar de la Renta wedding gown, but who can really afford one? With the average wedding costing over $27,000 these days, it doesn’t make sense to overspend on your wedding gown. Unfortunately, brides with real budgets have to turn to the “Wal-mart” of the bridal industry and end up with something they do not love and is anything but original. That’s why Judy Panozzo, bridal shop owner in Grand Junction, Colorado started designing her own label, MILLIE. She wanted to offer brides a unique and fashionable gown without the scary price tag.

By now you have probably tried on some wedding gowns and are probably unpleasantly surprised on how heavy and uncomfortable they are (not to mention, the bra and skirt you have to put underneath it). Why do we have to sacrifice comfort for fashion even on our wedding day? Well, with a Millie gown you don’t have to. Millie gowns are amazingly comfortable and lightweight. We use the finest construction so the gown supports the girls body to flatter her figure.

The Millie line is ideal for your outdoor destination wedding; simple yet elegant. Instead of your typical overdone run-of-the-mill gown with too many beads and heavy long trains, Millie’s are made with a mixture of fun, gorgeous fabrics. To pick up some light and to add some sparkle, elegant brooches or a few sequins are added. The popular Isabella gown even has a colored ribbon belt. The perfect way to coordinate your wedding colors.

Ranging from $500 to $700, there is a style to suit the real bride’s budget without sacrificing style. Remember, your wedding dress is the single most important piece of clothing you’ll ever wear. You’ll want to look fabulous so you can truly feel your very best on the happiest day of your life!

Lifting of the Veil

How Did it Start?

In the not so distant past, marriages were arranged, sometimes before a person was born. The groom did not see his bride until after they were pronounced Man & Wife. The veil hid the bride's face from view. This was how Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah instead of Rachel in the book of Genesis.

Symbol of Innocence

The veil is the one thing a second time bride is suppose to relinquish since it is a symbol of innocence, not the white dress. Many second time brides will wear the veil but do not cover the face.

Two Traditions

Many brides prefer to give their father the honor of lifting the veil. The bride comes down the aisle with her father with the veil covering her face. At the front of the church the minister asks, “Who gives this woman?” The father says, “I do,” lifts her veil, and gives her a kiss before taking his seat.

The second tradition is to keep the face covered until the kiss. The minister says, “You may kiss the bride,” The bride turns to her maid-of-honor and hands her the bouquet. The maid-of–honor lifts the veil. The bride turns back to her new husband for the kiss. The minister introduces the new Mr. and Mrs. ________ to the congregation. The music starts and they then proceed out of the church. This can be a very dramatic conclusion to the ceremony.

WE Go Bridal Week

This week on WE tv it's all about weddings!!! Click on WE for your local listings.

Be Organized & Stress Free - Getting Started

The next six to twelve months will be a very exciting time for you. There are many things you should do now and many that will have to wait until the last minute. What’s first?

In my opinion, the most important thing you can do right now is get a three-ring binder with pocket dividers. You’ll use this to keep contracts from all of the vendors you will deal with. Also, cut out pictures of gowns, flowers, cakes, decorations, colors, and anything else you like. “A picture is worth a thousand words” maybe an old saying, but it is still very true. Show your vendors what you like. It’ll be much easier. Start collecting names and addresses early. Sending your invitations is the hardest job of all.

The second thing to do is get a good wedding planning book. A planner will give you a list of details that you would never think of yourself. Keep a notepad and pencil by your bed. When you wake up in the middle of the night with another detail, write it down so you can go back to sleep. If not, you will stay awake all night trying to remember.

When you are able to locate all of these pieces easily, you’ll be so glad you started out organized.

Preview New Millie Styles For Spring 2008

Toni was originally in taffeta. We changed to satin, added a chapel train, and removed the key-hole in front to make a sweetheart neck.




For Jessica we changed the body of the dress
from taffeta to chantilly lace. We've added a chapel train and a beaded belt.



For Mallory we removed the pleated chiffon from the midriff, did inverted pleats in the skirt and added a balloon bottom.



The bodice of Avery was beautiful but the dropped waist was too long and the ruffles were tulle. We raised the dropped waist by 3" and changed the pleats to alternating layers of chantilly lace and pleated chiffon.