One of my favorite Southern California Bridal Salons is having an amazing sale. Winnie Couture is offering a limited sale. Run to the Beverly Hills store. It’s so gorgeous there. White and pink, with chandeliers everywhere. You’ll feel like a princess, receive the best in customer service and save on your dream gown.

David’s Bridal is at it again. I already knew they offered invitations, and that they were affordable. But, now they have turned affordable into stylish! David’s Bridal Invitations are now available by color, style, theme and price. Their website is attractive and easy to navigate. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you discover the vast choices available to brides today. 

Their exclusive new line is called DB Exclusive. Wait until you see these contemporary invitations. The envelopes are lined, many have embellishments and the colors are vibrant and lively. They offer complete sets that include invitations, response cards, thank you cards and escort cards.

 If you are in the market for affordable solution to creating a comprehensive look to your wedding stationery, look no further. Imagine how impressed your guests will be when they receive your stunning wedding invitation. When they arrive at your wedding, they’ll smile when they realize their escort card matches the invitation. After the wedding, a coordinated thank you card will arrive in their mailbox.

Everyone will think you spent a fortune. Only you’ll know that it’s smart to think affordable.
*Sponsored Endorsement

Last week this is where I had lunch. How lucky am I? My wonderful clients from New York will be getting married at The Huntley Hotel. The Penthouse restaurant is where the reception will take place. They actually had their first date here.

I met my colleague, the amazing florist Chris Crisolongo of Paradise Delight Florist. We were brainstorming on creating a design that will enhance the penthouse and give our clients that “Organic-Urban Chic” direction they desire. So we sat and feasted in the very place our clients and their loved ones will be sitting.

It’s so bright and airy. You can see the ocean in all it’s magnificence. Wow, what a great way to work. We’re not only designing florals. Instead we are creating an experience. We walked away with fresh ideas inspired by all that we saw around us. I’m so excited to share it with our wonderful couple. This wedding takes place in August. Stay tuned….I’ll definately be posting pictures.

 
Bridget & Alex - Mexican Tradition

Southern California is a melting pot of beautiful people. We are a collective group of various races, cultures and religions. It’s one of the things I love about my job. With every new couple I meet, I learn some new tradition they want to incorporate into their wedding. I’m consistently challenged with blending cultures together, while respecting the traditions of each family. It got me thinking about how many beautiful rituals we’ve seen along the way. I decided I would share them with you. From time to time, we will feature a tradition from one of our real weddings. You’ll learn what that tradition means. Perhaps, you’ll be inspired to come up with a new tradition of your own. After all…..every tradition had a beginning. We hope you embrace the beautiful cultures we’ve had the honor to experience. If you have a tradition you want to share, please comment or email me. We’d love to share it with our readers.

In honor of my Latin culture, I would like to begin with THE LASSO, which is celebrated by both Mexican and Philipino cultures.

As part of the ceremony to symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads or a cord is placed in a figure eight shape around the necks of the couple after they have exchanged their vows.  

A special person/couple (usually called Sponsors or Padrinos), places the lasso around the shoulders of the bride and groom, groom’s shoulder’s first. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. (The loop is symbolic of their love which should bind the couple together everyday as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives.)

At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by either the couple which placed the lasso on the couple, or the priest. The lasso is given to the Bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom’s heart and home.
Courtesy of http://www.weddingdetails.com/lore/mexican.cfm

We recommend purchasing your Lasso at Para Ti Novia.

Wondering how to incorporate your love of color into your wedding? Dress your maids in the same shade and let them each carry different bouquets. We share how to make it work from our “real wedding” of Jennifer and Ian. Our delightful bride, Jennifer wanted her wedding to  have an essence of whimsy. Her girls all wore beautiful champagne, knee length gowns. No matching shoes for these gals. Their personalities came alive when wearing shoes in their favorite color. This spunky bride chose bouquets to match their shoes. The posey style bouquets were bright and fun, just like the girls who wore them. You can see from these photos taken by CherieFoto that Jennifer’s plan of whimsy and individuality pleased her maids.

Not to be overshadowed by her bridesmaids, we’ll share photos of Jennifer and Ian. Such a special couple and such a beautiful wedding.

Jennifer’s love of color comes through again in her shoes and her bouquet. Great contrast against her diamond white gown.

Did you get the latest copy of Ceremony Magazine - Orange County? You must! Our friend Marianne Lozano Photography was featured for her photo shoot Glam Gowns. Marianne asked me for assistance in coordinating the shoot. We assisted with gowns and the timeline of the day. It was so much fun helping these beautiful models into these gowns. Jobyna’s Bridal provided these one of a kind pieces of art. They were all Ines Di Santo originals. I got goosebumps when I unwrapped the bags and saw each one. The fabric, the beading, the craftmanship. Ahhhh…heaven for a wedding planner.

These creative shots were taken at The Ebell Club of Los Angeles. Marianne chose the theatre to showcase her work. We think it was brilliant. Beautiful models, luscious gowns, amazing photographer…….well of course Ceremony Magazine had to feature it. Marianne..thanks for including us in this beautiful feature.

As we usher in the new year, many of us are thinking about our resolutions. Many brides have resolved to lose weight before their wedding. I came across in interesting article, titled “The Incredible Shrinking Bride”.  Read More. You bet it caught my eye. It’s all about the lengths brides will go to look “perfect” on their wedding day. Unrealistic diets, botox injections, teeth whitening and even artificial tanning.

As a woman, I believe we should always want to look our best. It’s understandable that you want to get in shape and be as beautiful as possible for your wedding day. But at what cost? Is it healthy mentally or physically to try to loose 20 pounds in a month? Should you risk damage to your skin by ariticial tanning beds? How much money will you spend to change the appearance of your teeth? Ask yourself why? Why would you go to these lengths for your wedding day? Then ask yourself are you preparing yourself for a wedding or a marriage?

Remember the day your fiance proposed? You were deliriously happy. To him, you were the most beautiful woman in the world, and he chose you exactly as you are. He loves YOU and wants to spend the rest of his life with the woman you see in the mirror today.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive to be healthier and look your very best. You should. We all should. Make realistic goals and don’t overshadow the time leading up to your wedding by being ill from starving yourself. Most importantly remember you’re planning for a future, not just a day.

Wedding Jeannie is welcoming 2010 with open arms. Let’s face it 2009 was a tough year for so many people. Weddings were impacted in a huge way. Engaged couples decided it wasn’t wise to get married in 2009 and have held off for 2010. For those of you who waited and are ready to marry in 2010, WE’RE WAITING FOR YOU!

There is so much to be excited about. We have some very interesting weddings coming up. Veronica and I are thrilled about what is to come. Some Cultural weddings include Indian, West African and Latin. We love the rich traditions that cultural weddings bring to our lives. Some of the venues where you will find us this year include Arbor Terrance in Fallbrook, The Huntley in Santa Monica, The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, The St. Regis in Laguna Beach, and the historic Park Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Wow! I’m excited thinking about it.

2010 also brings another new beginning for us. We created THE CONFIDENT BRIDE WORKSHOP in response to the confusion brides have told us they are experiencing. Wedding Jeannie believes that every bride should be a CONFIDENT bride. The World Wide Web has made wedding planning more confusing than ever. There are hundreds of websites available. It’s where YOU look for advice and vendors. Unfortunately those vendors are not always reputable. Our workshops strip planning down to the basics. We teach you how to choose qualified vendors, budgeting for your particular needs, organization and the critical 30 Day countdown. Join us as we bring you the best vendors in Southern California sharing their expertise with you. Our workshops are NOT a bridal show. Nothing to buy, no hardsell. Only free advice! Why would we do this? Because there is alot of bad advice out there and we want all brides to have a positive planning experience, whether they decide to use a planner or not.

Wedding Jeannie is renewed and ready to take 2010 by the tail. Why not come along with us? We accept a limited number of weddings per year. This means we are booking up quickly. What does that mean to you? It means we can focus our energy and expertise on your wedding and individual needs.

We wish to congratulate you on your engagement. You have an exciting 2010 ahead of you. If you find that you need the assistance of a qualified, creative and enthusiastic team of wedding planners, call us today. We can’t wait to be your partner in planning.

Your wedding invitations set the tone for your wedding. When your invitation arrives in the mailbox it should say something about you. Long gone are the days of a simple white invitation. That was your mother’s invitation. Today’s bride chooses to personalize every aspect of her wedding, starting with her invitations. Consider it the FIRST IMPRESSION of your wedding.  Not only will it tell your guests when and where your nuptuals will take place, it’s a visual introduction into your wedding. The type of paper, graphic and color will say alot about you. If you have a theme, this is where you want to incorporate it. The wedding invitation should reflect your personal style, announce your colors, and clearly define the formality of the occasion.

David’s Bridal offers stylish and affordable invitations the will fit your budget and set the stage for your wedding. They make it simple for you to choose your perfect invitation. They offer tips, advice and inspiration, as well as a large selection of invitations to choose from. Today’s hottest colors and graphics are available. Be inspired, stylish and smart. Visit David’s Bridal today and set the tone for your wedding day.
*Sponsored Endorsement

Many people don’t know that I was a floral designer before I was a Wedding Planner. Alot of So. Ca. brides have walked down the aisle holding a bouquet that I lovingly made for them. The other day, I was looking at pictures from previous weddings. Rachael’s bouquet jumped out at me. This one holds a special place in my heart, because she was such a wonderful cleint to work for. Rachael and Jeremy were married at Churon Winery in Temecula. What a great Fall Winery Wedding. The colors were rich and warm. She wanted her bouquet to be wild and yet elegant. I can still remember how hard I worked on the handle. To make it sexy, I fashioned the handle after a corset. What a great memory. I hope you love this bouquet as much as I do.

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of working for Jennifer and Ian. This picture is a teaser of another blog post to come. It’s honestly one of the most incredible images of a bride that I personally have ever seen. And I see alot! Thank you to Cherie Steinberg of CherieFoto for getting this image to me within two days. She was so excited about it that she sent it this morning. If you love it, see Cherie’s work at www.cheriefoto.com

I’m using this photo to showcase my newest bargain. Jennifer was a very smart bride. Her wedding was gorgeous and had so many unique touches. She was able to provide her guests with a photo booth, an interactive scrap booking experience, an art wall where guests could paint on a canvas. The canvas will be a permanent piece of art they will have forever. How was she able to do all this without breaking the bank?

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on her gown, she purchased a very affordable gown at David’s Bridal. She then took the gown to a trusted seamstress who added beading, appliques, pleating and rouching. It was magnificent. The seamstress took the one point, hook and eye bustle, and created a unique 18 point bustle that made the back of her gown look like cotton candy.

In my opinion, Jennifer is a trend setter. She thought outside of the box and found a way to have a custom couture gown without breaking the bank. What did she do with the money she saved? Upgraded her menu….and treated her guests to one amazing meal. Now that’s what I call a smart bride.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My life has never been personally touched by Breast Cancer, but by other forms of cancer. In the past I’ve done my part and walked 5 times in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. Over the last few years, wedding planning took all my time, and I feel badly that I’m not taking action. How could I “marry” giving of myself and weddings? BRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER.

What is Brides Against Breast Cancer? It’s a non-profit organization that provides women suffering the effects of breast cancer, precious time with their loved ones, when insurance is exhausted. How do they do this? Through the donation and sale of used wedding gowns. This amazing group of individuals, many volunteers, take this “show on the road” throught the country. Sales of gowns are held in major cities throught out the country. Want to know where you can buy a beautiful designer gown at a fraction of the cost of a salon? Visit their Gown Sale Calendar.

“But Jeannie”, you say, “I’ve already bought my gown, how can I help”. There are many ways. Once your wedding day has passed, you can donate your gown! Simply send it to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. No only are you helping in the fight for breast cancer, you are being “green”. By recycling wedding gowns, instead of manufacturing new ones, we lesson our carbon footprint on the earth. Now that’s a cool thing to do. And…..it’s a tax deductable donation!!!!! You can also donate your time to a local event,  or have a Pink Envelope Bridal Shower.

Another way to make a difference, is at your reception. Instead of a favor, provide your guests with a donation on their behalf. After all, how many gel candles or soaps do people really need? Visit the Pink Envelope Project to learn more.

I’ve decided to make a vow right here on my blog (for all to see). I’m going to call Brides Against Breast Cancer today and donate my time to the next local gown sale. I hope to see you there. Stop by and say hi! Let’s do something together to make a difference.

Join Inside Weddings Magazine, Bloomingdales, and Wedding Planner Mary Dann for a “Pre-Wedding” Wedding Party. You can choose your registry items, enjoy the latest bridal fashions, enjoy cocktails and yummy hors d’oeuvres, take home a beautiful goodie bag and enter for your chance to win a three day stay in Hawaii. Isn’t it fun to be a bride?

Introducing Alexis and Kate Lyman. This dymanic “sister” duo are the talent behing Echo Parque, a luxury brand of hair accessories. Alexis and Kate were on hand at our Couture Bride Workshop, showing off their extensive collection. Our brides as well as our presenters were in love with all the “hair bling”. The girls use feathers, netting, cloth flowers, beads, appliques, and so much more. We all fell in love with their headbands, clips, combs and even hats. We fell in love with them too! Not only are they talented, but they are fun, lively and passionate about what they are doing. That’s a winning combination.

Echo Parque can custom design a hair clip or head band to match your bridesmaids gowns. What a great idea. What girl wouldn’t love to wear this for a wedding and then again out for coffee or dinner? Check out the full collection available on Etsy. www.echoparque.etsy.com, or call Alexis and Kate at 323.378.8812.

Alexis and Kate…..thank you for taking part of our workshop. We loved having you there and hope you will be back with more of your lovely works of art.

As a bride-to-be, you’ve seen Get Married online, and on Lifetime Television. Now they launch the all new Get Married Magazine. Want a free copy? Of course you do! I do! Simply click on http://www.getmarried.com/registration/ and wait for your copy.

Not only will the mag be gorgeous and glossy, it will be interactive. Yup, there’s an app for that! Why? Because let’s face it, we’re all on the go these days. Using Microsoft Tags, you’ll be able to read featured articles right on your Blackberry or IPhone.

Hosted by celebrity event designer Colin Cowie, Get Married’s TV show is a daily half-hour television series airing at 7:30 am ET/PT on Lifetime Television, the leader in women’s television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. Video segments from the show are available online 24/7 at GetMarried.com, along with articles, image galleries, bridal blogs and shop. For more information, please visit www.GetMarried.com, and to participate in online dialogues, visit www.BloggerBrides.com

Since we’re on the topic, tune into Get Married TV on September 3rd. Wedding Jeannie will be featured on “My Favorite Wedding”. It’s the wedding of Michelle and Jeremy. They had a vintage yet modern wedding at The Ebell of Long Beach almost one year ago. Tune in to find out why it was my favorite.