Over the last few months, I’ve been SO busy… between work, life… and the small task (HA!) of planning a wedding. It’s amazing how many details are involved in the organization. Every so often I have to stop and think… I AM GETTING MARRIED! My sister recently sent out my shower invites and her sweet note to me helped me stop and realize the beauty of this time. I’m getting married to a wonderful man. While I do enjoy all the planning…. all the fun special details pale in comparison to those I love.

Bridal Shower Invite

The invite was so beautiful…it was a little representation of the beauty of this time in my life.

I have seen this company several times online and really liked the concept but had NO IDEA how amazing the invites were in person. Egba Originals — www.EgbaOriginals.com — did the invites and transformed the usual paper concept into something outstanding. They created a block as the invite. It’s actually very heavy like a real block. It’s such high quality… it’s like getting a gift in the mail.

They printed L-O-V-E on different sides of the block and on the other two, they printed the invite details. It’s so fun… I love it!

My sister is so amazing to organize a special shower for me.

Check out www.EgbaOriginals.com and their blog for several other fun invites that they can create – www.egbaoriginals.com/blog.

I definitely have a newfound respect for former brides! Haha.. It’s amazing what goes into planning a wedding. I’ve experienced so many moments of love, joy, peace, happiness and excitement (and secretly love all the planning)… but along with that has also come moments of stress.

I believe that’s why some people have set out to make the bride feel special on the wedding day. Catherine Siroka of Princessbands has identified with the stress factor and has done just that. I have admired her work for years and I’m happy to be able to experience it now first-hand.

Most popular tiara that can also be worn again as a necklace... love that idea!

Princessbands offers create-your-own beaded tiaras, accessories and jewelry. After talking with her over the phone, she created a custom piece to match my wedding dress… she is SO talented. I tried it on with my final dress fitting and it’s perfect. I won’t share the details (shhhh, it’s a secret until the wedding) but I’ll share some of her other pieces and more about her for other brides out there!

Want to feel like a princess while making the world a better place?
Visit www.princessbands.com to check out the handcrafted tiaras, jewelry and accessories. A portion of each sale goes to the charity of your choice.

Need help choosing a headpiece or jewelry for yourself or your wedding party?
Not sure what goes with your dress and hairstyle? There are so many choices it can be overwhelming. Cathy provides a personal consultation… just bring an open mind and maybe some photos, and she does the rest. She can also provide design samples for your next hair trial. Consultation is free with any purchase of headpiece, jewelry or hair accessories.

Princessbands is the perfect portal for brides, bridesmaids or anyone who’s got a special evening’s outfit to plan. She allows customers to customize — to dream up their own designs using any color pearl, crystal, or stone. With several patterns, motifs and thematic combinations to choose from, princesses of any age can add glittering crystals, pink, gray and white freshwater pearls, along with stones like garnet, citrine, mother-of-pearl and amethyst to their tiara…and let their imagination run wild.

Whether someone needs a focal-point “statement” crowning glory or a delicate accessory to enhance the gown, or wishes to match a specific bead pattern or color, each whimsical and romantic design can be modified to a customer’s needs (and budget). Available items also include hair pins, headbands, combs, headpieces, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, handbags and gifts. In addition, the tiaras can also be worn as choker necklaces.

“I love how the Internet has enabled me to provide a cost-effective solution for people who want a unique, original, only-theirs product. The accessibility of technology has been a great breeding-ground for creativity. I am inspired every day by my customers’ ideas,” explains Catherine Siroka, owner and founder of Princessbands.

For more information, visit Princessbands at www.princessbands.com or call 203-227-4837.

Since my wedding has a “vintage” theme flare, I loved the idea of having a lemonade stand at the wedding reception. I’m not sure if we will have standard lemonade only… or if we’ll add a little flare with some strawberry lemonade or cherry. Hmmmmm…yum! We shall see. But before planning too far ahead, I set out to find the perfect lemonade dispenser.

After a bit of searching, I came across www.classichostess.com. They basically carry any type of serving pieces imaginable.When I came across their Hexagonal Glass Beveral Dispenser with a Stand, I knew it was the one. I contacted the company and they were very friendly. Shortly after, I received my three dispensers in the mail. Unfortunately the glass arrived broken (which is understandable… as I’ve shipped a lot of glass that has broken in transit… it’s out of your control when it’s in possession of the mail service). The company,  www.classichostess.com, was extremely helpful and quickly sent out a replacement. I was very pleased. I also noticed that they have a sale right now which ends June 21st.

5 off – Minimum Order $49 use promo 5off
Free Shipping – Minimum Order $85 use promo shipfree
$30 off + Free Shipping – Minimum Order $299 use promo shipfree & 30off

So get your summer wedding lemonade dispensers while you can!

After finding the perfect wedding dress, I set out to find the perfect shoes (although not right away). It wasn’t until my alterations expert said I had to have the shoes for my next fitting… which was ONLY about a week away. EEKS! I had already visited several stores and found the task daunting. Being that my wedding is at an estate with gravel walkways, I have to wear flats or wedges… a major dilemma. Flats felt too casual and most wedges I’ve seen are perfect with some trendy jeans (I love wedges by the way)… but not many are dressy enough to go with a bridal gown. After browsing the web, I ordered a pair (style TBA ) until post-wedding)… on a rush. While I liked the shoes (which seemed dressier than most wedges), something was missing. It was that extra wedding-flair… that special “work of art.” The more I thought about it, I had remembered a friend of mine… Crisa from Absolutely Audrey Shoe Clips – www.absolutelyaudrey.com. She turns “nice” shoes into something fabulous! Only a few days later, I received the clips in the mail… and I have to say, the pictures on her website are beautiful but in person, these are AMAZING! They made my shoes look so glamorous. I can’t wait to wear them on my wedding day. Thanks Absolutely Audrey!

Yes, it is true (not necessarily by scientific research but by input from my girlfriends!) that about 99% of bridesmaid dresses will be worn only once for that special day… then they sadly find their place in a closet, never to be worn again. Well we all remember that movie, “27 Dresses” and some ladies may connect all too well with a scene or two–i.e. multiple bridesmaid dresses tucked away in a plastic covering collecting dust for years to come.

Well, guess what… I may have discovered the secret of that other 1%.

It’s… drumroll… Joanna August!

Before finding this designer, I had envisioned an exact style for the bridesmaid dresses–and set off on a mission to find it. I visited store after store looking for this dress and unfortunately, was unable to find that perfect blend of color, fabric and style. My hope for the wedding was to offer a dress to my bridesmaids that was comfortable, pretty… and “wear-again” potential.

Just when I was about to give up hope, I came across www.joannaaugust.com. Yes, this was it!

Joanna August

All the dresses are amazingly beautiful! And one of them resembled the vision that I had for the bridesmaid dresses. My favorite design was the Claire Long (I loved the variations of style with the straps)… and the charmeuse fabric is gorgeous. Of course, I immediately contacted the designer, Joanna August.

Claire Long

Needless to say, I’m planning on going with a Joanna August dress (design to be revealed). I am so excited — the dresses are going to be gorgeous. (And to be honest, I’m a little sad that I don’t get one of those dresses for myself~!) I can’t wait to share pictures and more about my “bridesmaid dress” journey!

The Joanna August dress line was born out of Joanna’s own August 2008 nuptials. Having put so much effort into infusing class, style and taste into every element of her wedding Joanna could not bring herself to send her best friends down the aisle in dresses whose beauty ran a distant second to that of the table settings (not to mention asking them to spend money on something they would never wear again). So, Joanna set out to defy the conventions of the typical bridesmaids dress and create designs for her friends that she herself would love to wear, not only as a member of a bridal party, but to any occasion. The dresses were amazing, the wedding was beautiful and the Joanna August line was born.

Visit www.joannaaugust.com and contact joanna@joannaaugust.com. Available at the Joanna August Flagship Salon in Los Angeles, at  www.joannaaugust.com and at select Bella Bridesmaid boutiques nationwide.

A little bird told me about this fun idea for a wedding ceremony.   A little bird named Michele brought it to my attention… which ultimately led me to Tiny Bird Arts!

I found the idea from the wedding website, Off Beat Bride, featuring a bride named Michele …

“I [had] these “Yay” flags for our wedding, intending for people to wave them for us as we walked away after the ceremony. They ended up being such an integral part of the evening, with everyone waving and shouting “YAY” every time we walked by!”

How fun is that! I started searching online and came across an amazing company – Tiny Bird Arts. You can find some of her work at www.tinybirdarts.etsy.com and you can tweet the designer, Kristal, at www.twitter.com/tinybirdarts.

She’s extremely helpful… and I’ve loved working with her so far.  She has such great, creative ideas. Not only does she make the flags, but all other paper goods as well.  Today I received samples of the flags, which I LOVE! Check out her cute HOORAY and YAY flags for the ceremony. http://www.etsy.com/listing/45185894/unique-wedding-flags-sample-of-2

Kristal from Tiny Bird Arts is definitely queen of all things PAPER!

The moment I came across this company, www.cutarts.com, I was convinced our vintage-themed wedding wouldn’t be the same without the involvement of master craftsman, Karl Johnson!

(And when I found out his work appeared in Spiderman 3, one of my first dates with Steve,… ahhhh, my hopeless romantic surfaced… and my heart embraced Steve… “it’s meant to be!” I yelled. Hahaha. … he laughed.)

Not only has Karl’s work been in the movies, he also received a recent appearance request from Marc Anthony to create silhouettes of Jennifer Lopez, and her guests, at her 40th birthday party in NYC.  And he was recently selected by Martha Stewart as one of the best wedding ideas in 15 years.

I’m so excited to have CutArts.com at our wedding! We’re planning to have him create silhouettes of the guests starting during the hors d’oeurve hour after the ceremony. Guests will be able to take a copy of their silhouette home and another will be placed into a guest book to sign as a keepsake for me and Steve.

Here’s more about Karl and his art! Masterful Silhouettes from a Master craftsman.

Master scissor artist Karl Johnson of Cut Arts, has never been daunted by a profile he can’t render, a scene he can’t capture, or an image he can’t memorialize.

Karl’s silhouettes are all hand cut, created from the objects and people he sees in the world around him. These are not computer generated–something hard to believe with the detail and precision that attends each piece.

Silhouette art is a rare craft that was handed down to him by his father when he was a young boy.  One of the reasons his work is so exacting comes from only being able to see out of one eye. Because he was born deprived of the binocular vision we take for granted, he had to learn how to judge the distance of objects by examining their shadows and rendering images from them.

Each creation is extremely detailed and meant to become a treasured piece to be showcased in any part of the home. From children, couple silhouettes, to pets, to the great outdoors, nothing is out of his reach. Since the age of ten he has cut hundreds of thousands of images, and worked both small scale portraits to large projects with big name designers. (Jonathan Adler, Amy Coe, Irvine & Fleming, among others.)

Looking for a unique and talented guest to perform at important events such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, or parties? Karl can be booked to create meaningful and useful keepsakes for any private occasion. His wedding silhouettes are a beautiful and touching gift for a happy new couple, and his silhouettes of guests are a hit as favors. In addition, the host is given a scrapbook with every guest’s silhouette mounted inside.  He was recently selected by Martha Stewart as one of the best wedding ideas in 15 years.  A recent Appearance request came from Marc Anthony to create silhouettes of Jennifer Lopez, and her guests, at her 40th birthday party in NYC.  In addition to celebrity homes, he has been asked to create silhouettes of guests at events held at both the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, movie premiers, Galas, Charities, etc.

Karl’s work may be seen adorning the walls of many Hollywood notables such as Jennifer Garner, Alicia Keyes, Leah Remini, and the entire cast and crew of the hit show “How I Met Your Mother.”    His work has also appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including Spiderman 3 and the soon to be released Natalie Portman film Black Swan.

His work has been featured in numerous publications including The O List in O magazine, Parenting, InStyle, Elle décor, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Email Karl at pics@cutarts.com and mention ChicBlvd… and you will be taken care of… yes, even if you live across the country from Karl!

I can’t wait to have him at our wedding!

honeymoon... ahhhhh

My friend Leah (who’s also engaged) and I went to San Diego’s Bridal Bizaar today… two hours after we arrived, my bag of pamphlets and brochures was giving me an arm workout!

We had a blast checking out the vendors, tasting cakes, watching a fashion show… and sharing our personal wedding updates with each other. I still need some vendors for the wedding so this was a great way to check out several options in just a few hours.

love this...

The Bridal Bazaar claims to be the “San Diego’s Best Bridal Show” – At the Bridal Bazaar you’ll find aisle after aisle of displays by more than 200 of San Diego’s most talented wedding professionals. You can talk with the experts, see the latest trends, get new ideas, and find money-saving show specials on everything you need for your wedding.

Definitely recommend other brides to check it out! *Especially for some yummy cake tastings….

P.S. We happened to slip in the Travel Show happening right next door to check out some info about honeymoon destinations… ooooo yah, can’t wait for post-wedding tropical vacation! Where shall we go?? Hmmmm….

Steve and I started registering for our wedding. Yes… loved. it.

Our first (and only stop so far) was Crate & Barrel. Jeezo, that place is amazing. Who knew we needed an orange juice squeezer or a dipping dish for lobster… LOL.

a girl needs her coffee

We discovered things I didn’t even know existed… but that everyone apparently NEEDS. (Thankfully Steve is an amazing chef so he was just as excited (if not more) than I was to browse the cooking section.)

heart flutes

We don’t really NEED anything and are content with the things we own. But it symbolized the beginning of our house & life together which added to the fun. It was very meaningful browsing all the possibilities for *our* new home.

The two hours in the store flew by and it was closing time. We didn’t get a chance to finish… so we wrapped it up. They gifted us two champagne “heart” flutes… super cute. Thanks to Crate & Barrel!

Seriously… this popcorn will make you swoon! Have you ever tasted a mouthful of Oreos and Cookies & Cream Popcorn all in one bite. Woooooo… I never had until tonight. So delicious…. mmmm.

mmmmmm

I’m what sure what prompted the thought but I loved the idea of having popcorn on the seats at the rose garden ceremony of my outdoor wedding (in case people arrive early or need a little somethin’ somethin’ to keep them occupied and enjoying themselves (yes, popcorn sounds like a small touch but not to me… LOL).

Steve does the "taste test"...

Being that the focus is vintage, I thought this may be a fun element incorporating the theme. I was talking with company, Popcorn Palace, and together we developed the plan. I would like to have this gourmet popcorn in small “vintage-style” bags with a tag on them that say… “A tasty treat while you take a seat” in a font similar to my YAY flags (http://www.etsy.com/listing/44975390/wedding-flags-custom-vintage-set-of-12)

Cookies & Cream

So tonight Steve and I taste tested 5 flavors – Macadamia Butter Crunch, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Butter Pecan, Kettle Corn, Cookies & Cream. Our #1 favorite was the Cookies & Cream. We will either serve everyone this flavor… or mix it up. What do you think? Post a comment or email me… I want to hear!

Like I said…

Nothin’ say lovin’ like something from the oven… or the popcorn bag!

Check out www.PopcornPalace.com … so yummy for any event or every day munchin’.