HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Best wedding dresses

Best wedding dresses

Best wedding dresses

Best wedding dresses

Best wedding dresses

Best wedding dresses

-Devan wood closure handbag

-Devan shoulder bag (with adjustable stap and zipper closure)

Calling all Wedding Vendors!

I am delighted to invite all Wedding Library Vendor Members and their guests to hear about how small business owners manage growth and build companies on their own terms. The wedding industry is full of talented, passionate artists -- this is an opportunity to learn how to balance that creativity and love of weddings with running a business. Amy Abrams and Adelaide Lancaster have just published "The Big Enough Company" where they profile small businesses (like the Wedding Library) and reveal the lessons learned by these entrepreneurs. Join me and your peers as we discuss creating a business that works for you.

Amy Abrams and Adelaide Lancaster are the founders of In Good Company, a collaborative workspace for women business owners in New York City. They also work as consultants and business advisors, and their work has been featured in The New York Times and MSNBC. I've known these ladies for many years; they have a true insight into the entrepreneurial spirit!
Here's the book, it's available at Amazon, and at our event!
The event is this Tuesday, October 25 from 3-5pm.
There will be a special guest introduction by
Darcy Miller, Martha Stewart Weddings Editorial Director

Special Note: "The Big Enough Company" got too big! Due to (much) higher response than expected, we will email all respondees with the change of address:
Same day, same time, but we'll be at the lovely
Townhouse at Park Avenue Autumn, 100 East 63rd Street (at Park Avenue).

One Dress, Four Ways

I absolutely loved working on this project for New York Magazine's current Weddings issue. Four stylists were given this simple wedding gown to style in any creative way. I love the juxtaposition of high/low, simple/outlandish, leather and lace. My look is the biker chick (chic). Click on the image to see the details better. I paired our wonderful feather collar by Dana Michele with a leather tuxedo jacket -- it has tails!! Giant crystal stud Balenciaga earrings balance off the glam Untamed Petals sash. Gabriella New York helped us out with the shoes -- altogether a cool look, no?

One amazing part of the experience was working with the hair, makeup and model. As you can see, she is completely transformed in each look. The stylists whipped the model into shape in minutes and really captured the vibe I was looking for. Makes me think every bride should try out a bunch of looks for their big day...

Amsale Trunk Show, Get Excited!

A Nutty Favor

So, I might have gotten my bug and butterfly obsession out of my system now that it's fall. Plus, I have a new idea I can't get out of my head -- nuts. Well, nuts and seeds. I am finding acorns all over my property and I am remembering the little acorn creatures I made as a child. While brainstorming for a winter wedding, I came up with the idea of nuts and a custom nutcracker as an in-room gift. I would love that!

When I ran across these chocolate nut favors, I went (forgive me) nuts. You can find them and the little bags on etsy. Or you can get a rubber stamp and print your own muslin bags. Then you can customize the bag with your monogram, wedding date, or a cute image of a squirrel...

Chocolates from Andies Specialty Sweets and the bags are from Quotes and Notes.

Felted Pom Pom Arrangements

As winter weddings creep closer I am charmed by the idea of these felted pom poms as a cocktail table arrangement and this sweet acorn placecard idea.

Bridal Gowns - Oct 2011

WellWed Hamptons Feature

WellWed Hamptons has launched their Fall/Winter Issue and it's lovely. I mean really lovely. You can get a complimentary copy at the Wedding Library but here's a sneak peek of a piece on my collaboration with Hampton's planner Corinne Strauss and a spread on a styled piece I created in shades of red and white. Yippee!

Photo of Corinne and me by Philippe Cheng and photoshoot images by Mel Barlow.

"LEAF" YOUR PRINT

Over the past few years there has been an obvious increase in Fall weddings and with an increase in Fall weddings comes the demand for new ideas to help make your Fall wedding unique. Browns, oranges and reds are favourite colours for this time of year and candy apples, roasted nuts, teas and preserves are still guest favour staples but the latest trend perfect for Fall, although still a great idea for any season, is the Fingerprint Tree Guestbook.

Viva loves this unique idea and is excited to see it catching on. Guests simply place a little ink on their finger, stamp their fingerprint as a leaf on the tree, and then sign their name on the print. Voila! You can either choose ink in your wedding colours or use colours that match the decor of your home so that you can hang it up after the wedding as a beautiful piece of art. Check out BLEU de TOI on Etsy to get your very own!



Photo Credits: Chaz Cruz Photography

Butterfly Cake

As a wedding planner, I have been seriously influenced by "everything Martha" for well over a decade. This holds true for many of my clients, too, who come to me clutching tear sheets from the magazine. Sometimes all they have to say is "do you remember that cover with the butterflies" and I know exactly what they're referring to. I see a lot of real weddings clearly modeled on images and ideas from the magazine, with varying degrees of success. An upcoming wedding client wants the butterfly cake shown on the cover here which I promised to deliver. When I saw Wedding Star where you can purchase butterfly kits that capture the spirit of the cover cake, I was delighted to find an easy resource to "get the look". What do you think?

I love the butterflies in shades of green, or any graduated hue!

What great execution!

Goodness Gracious!

We are so thrilled that our gorgeous former intern Carly and her beau, David, had their stunning wedding shot by Jessica Claire featured on Green Wedding Shoes last week! Thanks to everyone for the beyond sweet comments and praise! Here is a sneak peek...

Head over to Green Wedding Shoes to see images of the bridal party, lounge area, dessert station, and silhouette artist! So many more great details you just have to check out!