Is green the new white?

Green Green Green

Everywhere you look you see signs about going green and saving the planet. Even in the wedding industry people and companies are starting to go green.

I want to give a quick shout out to a wedding gown designer who I really love. Adele Wechsler designs beautiful, feminine and ethereal gowns. Her new collection, the Eco Couture collection is so amazing! Adele Wechsler says this line is "for the bride who cares about the world she lives in" I have seen most of the line in person and these dresses are beautiful. Adele is using vegetable dyed silks and even hemp to make these gowns. The details are so beautiful. Tons of flowers and vines. Perfect gowns for an outdoor garden wedding.

These are a few of my favorite gowns from the line.

Flora is the gown that is made out of hemp. The material almost feels like linen. This dress is super light and airy. It would be great for an outdoor or beach wedding and will be very comfortable to wear through your reception.



Fern is a classic mermaid shape gown with vines and leaves winding around the entire dress. The bustle on this dress is so amazing, and when you unbustle it there are flowers all over the train. This dress is to this day one of my very favorite gowns I have ever seen simply because it is different.




If you are a bride looking for a super feminine gown and for a way to make your wedding green you must check out Adele Wechsler's Eco Couture collection

"http://adelewechsler.com/latest/ecocouture.html">

Social Media for Small Business

Hey, just want to let everyone know that Im going to be teaching a Social Media class every week starting this Tuesday April 21 at JCAR from 6-8. Email me or direct message me on twitter if you want to sign up. These classes are filling up super fast!



Thanks for watching the video. See you all there!

A Truley Green Wedding

Though my last trip to New York City did no go as planned I did manage to visit one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.Recommended by David Beahm himself Blue Hill Farms is a fully self sustained farm and event venue. Located in Tarrytown, about an hour outside of the city it is hard to imagine such a such a beautiful and quiet place exists. Driving into the farm you will be greeted by cows, chickens and pigs and beehives. Everything is so green and lush. There are farmer markets weekly. One of my brides moms lives about 10 minutes away from Blue Hill Farms and goes daily to get fresh eggs and fruits and vegetables.



On the farm you can visit animals such as sheep, cows, pigs, turkeys, and chickens. You can also go into the green houses which are truly amazing.

When I went I was scouting the venue for a wedding. The event coordinator walked us through the grounds and showed us where weddings take place. The building and grounds themselves are protected by the city of Terrytown so weddings only can take place in the restraunt and reception area. You can have your ceremony inside, in a goregous room with windows on all sides or outside. There is an herb garden or a lawn area you can hold your ceremony. For the reception they open the doors from the reception hall to the lawn so your reception can be indoor/outdoor.

The site offers dressing rooms, and long list of recommended vendors. You can bring your own vendors except for the caterer, and let me tell you, you do not need another caterer. The restaraunt there is an experience within itself. There is no menu. Your waiter hands you a list of fresh ingredients from the farm that are in season and you choose which ingridients sound good and the chef prepares you a custom meal. For your wedding you will be able to sit down with the chef and create a custom wedding menu.

If you are looking for a wedding venue on the east coast, where you will have an experience like nothing you could imagine, I highly recommend checking out Blue Hill Farms. If you are not getting married, but vacationing to New York, rent a car and drive to them, you will not regret it.




davidbeahm.com
http://www.bluehillfarm.com/

New Season of Gowns

So I just bought the new Martha Stewart Weddings. It looks like it's going to be a great season for wedding gowns.

Finally some gowns with straps. Working at the bridal salon I hear it all the time. "Where are the gowns with the straps?" One idea is if your dream gown doesn't have straps, ask if you can order extra fabric and have some straps made in alterations.

Flowers and Bows. I am definitely noticing both on the new dresses. Don't be afraid of these details. They may look like a lot when their on the hanger but try them on, they will look different. These are also great details that you can add in to other aspects of your wedding. If your dress has a bow on it, use that bow on the invitations or bouquets. If your dress has a very specific flower have a graphic designer copy the flower and use it on your invitations. Little details like this tie everything together and add great personality.

My favorite gown of the season- Eridanus by Valentino Sposa from Pronovias. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It is simple, elegant and in my absolute favorite fabric- silk mikado. This fabric glows in candle light.




Check out La Sposa's new collection as well. They may not look like much online but let me tell you in person and on brides they are stunning.

Your Wedding Photography

We spoke with local photographer Laura Dombrowski for some tips on finding
the right photographer to fit your style.

Choosing a wedding photographer is harder than ever these days. The digital age has
brought out the photographer in everyone. Use caution when selecting your wedding
photographer because distinguishing between the professionals and amateurs can be tricky.
Here are a few tips to help you find a high quality, professional photographer for your
special day.

1. Quality of their photographs. You have to love their images. On their website they display
their best. Do you like their style? Ask them about their style: photojournalism, traditional,
fine art, etc. Do you want more candids or posed portraits? When you meet with them ask to
see lots of photographs. Check out prints too. Ask to see all of the photos from one wedding.

2. Price. You pay for what you get. Simple as that. Prices can range from $2,000 to $20,000.
What is the difference? Why can one person charge $2,000 and another charge $20,000? It is
based on experience? Think of it as a lawyer. Lawyers that are just starting out get a
standard hourly rate. The more experience and the more cases one lawyer wins, the more
valuable he/she is. Winning some awards and high publicity cases will push him/her to the
next level making that lawyer in high demand. Same with photographers, I started out low. I
had no experience and no portfolio. I had to start somewhere. Now I have experience and I
am booking up faster each year. Also, I have been published and won a couple of awards! My
prices now reflect that. Figure out your budget and find the best photographer in that range.
Don't be scared to ask a photographer outside your range to see if they have other less
expensive packages available. I am always working with couples on their budget.

3. Check to see if they are a part of any professional organizations. Wedding Portrait
Photographers Internationals (WPPI) or Wedding Photojournalists Association (WPJA).

4. Ask how long they have been shooting weddings.

5. Look at their photography other than weddings: personal work, commercial work, etc.

6. Ask to talk to a previous client.

7. Equipment: Cannon and Nikon are the standard for professionals. But more importantly
than the brand, do they have back up equipment?

8. How long after the wedding do you get to see your images and album design? I have all
the images online less than 2 weeks after the wedding day. I usually have the album design
completed within 4 weeks.

Good luck selecting a photographer. Research a lot! Narrow down to three photographers
and go meet them. That meeting will help you make your choice. Remember that you are
going to be spending a lot of time with the photographer on the day of your wedding and
throughout the year. Finding the right personality match can make all the difference!

Your wedding day makeup

We spoke with Carissa of Wedding Makeup by Carissa-

The thought of having someone else prepare how you will look for the most important
day of your life is a little daunting to say the least. Especially when you don't know them.
Finding a makeup artist isn't an easy task, especially since most don't have websites and of
course a portfolio will only feature the best photos. Here are a few tips in finding the
perfect artist for your perfect day.

Hit the counters- Some of the best training for artists is from the big companies
themselves, the girls are trained regularly throughout the year and practice daily. It's how
I got my start and I still know many people throughout various departments, chances are
they know someone who has gone out on their own if you'd prefer a freelance artist. Just
find find someone with a personal style that matches your own.

Ask questions - A million questions should be answered before the actual makeup application
takes place. What lines does she use? How does she maintain hygiene standards? Is she
prepared for older women or younger girls needing services at the wedding? Will she charge
full price for a little gloss or shimmer on a junior bridesmaid? How was she trained? What
happens in emergencies if she can't show up for some reason? So much of what I do has little
to do with makeup and more to do with education.

Make sure a run-through is included- This really isn't a service that just happens the day of,
you should know exactly how you will look for your wedding well before the big day. I always
provide a run-through where we choose a look together, and I document exactly what I used
so I can duplicate it again. Could I just show up and provide beautiful makeup for all parties
involved? Absolutely, but I want the bride to be at ease which is what it's all about.

Be realistic- Yes I know that Angelina Jolie looks amazing with her signature cat eye and
nude lips, but you might not. Sometimes it's a dance between my clients and myself where
they know what they want and I know what will actually work. Be open minded and see what
possibilities arise.

About me- I've been a makeup artist for 12 years making countless Colorado brides look
beautiful. I'm also a beauty writer keeping women plugged into the latest beatuy.

I am open to answering questions, feel free to visit me at:

http://ColoradoWeddingMakeup.com

http://HookedOnBeauty.com

An Emotional Engagement

As a wedding planner I am dedicated to understanding every aspect of weddings and marriage, including the engagement. Since I work with couples throughout their engagement I really wanted to understand this process of the marriage better. I found a book called Emotionally Engaged by Allison Moir-Smith. First off I want to recommend this book to every engaged, or about to be engaged girl. I loved this book because it ensures you that everything you feel is perfect to feel. No body expects you to be the perfect perky "bride to be" all of the time. The author has a background in psychology so she explains psychologically what changes during your engagement. Her main goal in writing the book is to challenge brides to feel and explore all of their feelings through out their engagement.

This book had a strong impact on me for two reasons. 1. I am an "almost" engaged girl so it helped me process my feelings I was starting to have. 2. I work with so many brides who put on a happy face for their moms and bridesmaids and get so wrapped up in the stigma of "bride to be" that they finally snap. This is where the show Bridezillas becomes reality television. It is never healthy to bottle up all your emotions, especially during an incredibly stressful and emotional process like an engagement.

I urge all fiances and brides to open up to somebody about your feelings. Either a friend or your fiance or even a therapist. I have personally seen the difference in brides who express their stress and frustration throughout their engagement and those who do not. My job as a planner is to make your engagement less stressful so you can enjoy it, so feel what you want and enjoy being engaged. It is such a short amount of time in your relationship together. You will only be engaged to eachother once, so cherish it and all the changes that come with it.

WHAT THE HECK IS TAFFETA???????

Shopping for your wedding dress is so exciting, it can also be tiring and frustrating. There are so many fabrics, so many styles, and so many choices. I am going to try and explain a few of these things so it is less confusing.

Here are the most common fabrics you will try on.
Taffeta: A lightweight crisp material. It has a lustrous, smooth finish. It can be plain or finely ribbed. Paper taffeta is crisp, almost crunchy; it makes a really great swooshing sound. Tissue taffeta is thin, almost transparent. Usually used as an overlay. Taffeta is made of silk, cotton, rayon, and synthetics.

Shantung: It has a plain weave, usually very rough with a random pattern. It has a nubby texture produced by weaving uneven fabrics together. It is made of silk or synthetics.

Duchesse Satin: A good winter fabric. Lightweight, glossy, has a sort of antique sheen. It is made of silk or rayon. Silk-faced satin is heavier than duchess satin but with the same appearance.

Organza: I always confuse organza and taffeta. Organza is crisp, sheer, very lightweight. It has a stiff texture. It has a really pretty luster.

Point d’esprit: Sheer, almost transparent cotton. It has dots on in which are woven into a pattern.

Net: It is a heavyweight mesh like wave. There are 3 types of net:
Maline: very fine variation
Marquisette: Soft, transparent, weightless
Tulle: Hexagonal holes. Made of silk, rayon, and nylon.
Most veils are made of nylon netting.

Chiffon: Soft, light, transparent. Simple weave out of silk, cotton, rayon and synthetics.

Eyelet: Great spring or summer fabric. Cotton or linen fabric with open work pattern of round holes. Finished at edges with embroidery.

Georgette: Sheer, lightweight crepe with a dull texture.

Satin: Densely woven, smooth, unbroken surface. Lustrous on one side matte on the other. Made of silk rayon and blends. Satin is your basic shiny wedding dress fabric. It is very classic.

Crepe: Great summer fabric. Soft, light, thin. It has a crinkled or ridged texture. There are 3 types of crepe fabric-
Crepe charmeuse: pebbly texture that lays flat and clings
Crepe de chine: Informal, good for fall or winter
Four ply crepe: Heavier than crepe de chine but has a flat texture. No luster, also good for fall or winter.

Linen: This is such a great fabric for beach weddings or informal summer or spring weddings. It is crisp and lightweight.



Now I don’t expect that after reading these definitions you will be able to name every fabric you see in a bridal salon. These are also not the only fabrics you will try on but these are a few of the most common. I think it is important to know what sort of fabric you want, and you may not know until you see them on but this is a good place to start, or to come after you have been shopping to be able to compare the fabrics you tried on during the day.

Some interesting facts about wedding gowns:

Woman in Japan have always married in white but other brides did not take this tradition until the late 18th century. Until then brides either wore their “Sunday best” or married in blue.
White was put in the etiquette books as the new trend in 1860 after Queen Victoria wore white. She was the first royal bride not to where the heavily brocaded silver gown. Since then white has been the color of choice for the wedding dress.