It's Here!!! WOAL {Update #3)

Ok...Ok, but they are pretty right! Mine arrived today!

Bridal Shower! WOAL {Update #2}

The Trifecta and I have been very busy. It is quite something to be on the other side of the wedding process. I had to admit to my partners in crime that I had never in my 20 years of being in the industry thrown a Bridal Shower. But there are a few things I do know:
1. people make the party
2. everyone loves champagne
3. you can't go wrong with the Rittenhouse Hotel
4. don't try and be a photographer of you are not - they capture moments you never saw...and you actually get to enjoy the party (Thank you Ann Marie Casey!)                                

Bride and "Trifecta"

And it was the perfect venue for this particular Bridal Shower since we have the Groom crossing the pond for the love of his life - a Bridal British Tea in the Mary Cassatt Tearoom of the Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia was the perfect place for our party on April 22, 2012. Danielle Blusius could not have been more accommodating or kind - our day was amazing in great part due to her, her team and their attention to detail that day (all I added were flowers and Lilly Pulitzer pillows!)

If you are going to finish the small details for your party OR need a place to start - you need to meet Katie Malandrino from Green Apple Paperie! Let me warn you - you are going to feel completely inadequate reading her blog. Martha Stewart shys from her - she has two babies and still squeezed in my order a mere 4 days away from the blessed event (the shower that is!)...with what I imagine to be a smile - bc she was a sheer delight to deal with. She has this awesome Etsy shop where she has thought of all the details you know you want but can not possibly pull off on your own - until you place your order. My time investment was about 15 minutes, the return - priceless. All the signage in this day were her genius - I just picked a color and pattern! Seriously - put it in a great frame and you are the hostess with the mostess!

Looks like this:

  

Amazing!

This day was really about Jen - but this blog post is all about the people who made it happen - so on to as my sister says..."the most amazing cookies EVER!" You know how it usually goes - you get a cookie favor from a party and it's pretty but it tastes "eh?!" ... not these! I was in SF - visiting the cutest baby in the world CJH - when the lovely Michele, owner and baker at "luckybites," arrived with some delicious Meyer Lemon cookies, perfectly packaged...I was hooked and so were the guests at the party. I swear people were fighting over them! Check out her FB page and you see how you can have some delivered to your home, sweetheart or puppy (yep!)

 

Presents were opened...Facinators were prepped...

 

 And of course there were flowers among the details...

 ...and there were fun people there too!

Back to my photography comment....I can not thank Ann Marie Casey enough for indulging me in shooting this day! You are so nice, you really made everyone feel comfortable, so we were able to be ourselves  - the rest is in the film. Ann Marie just moved to her new Diggs in Bryn Mawr! Go check her out (I'll probably be there!)

 Death Grip....VA is so far away!

Engagement Shoot aka Jen's Photo Shoot WOAL {Update}

God bless Mike and Erin from "Tall + Small Photography," I can only imagine what they thought of us the day of Jen and Iain's engagement shoot on April 1st in Richmond, Virginia - it was no joke!

Jude C has never shown such restrain. I "know" what I should do because I am a wedding professional, I know am not in charge, nor am  I proficient in taking pictures - this does not mean it feels comfortable not being in charge. Nor do I need to be...focus...Maid of Honor, Maid of Honor, Maid of Honor.

Jen & Iain hired S+T because they are professionals, they are excellent at what they do, produce beautiful work and are very talented artists. This day, I have been reduced to a glorified Sherpa; I am not in charge - but I am thrilled! All I have to worry about is if Jen has something in her teeth, if a hair is out of place and to carry the multiple costume changes and props that we (that's me and Jen + shenanigans) have decided were "must haves." Mike and Erin had a few different ideas and they were so spot on! They saw things that J+I might not have seen in themselves - and it is amazing! Hire professionals people!

We started the day at a favorite Carytown spot "Helen's" - I ran off for costume change #2....

 

 Then on to "make out session #2" Black Swan Books...

 

 

 &...yet there's more...frolicking in Byrd Park

 

....&....

 

....&....Love.

You thought those images were good - check out the rest on their blog - there is a .GIF that is to die for with Jen and Iain!

Thank you Tall + Small Photography for a day to remember and sharing these beautiful images!

March Open House | NCC

I always love and Open House - but it does fill me with a fair bit of anxiety. I work really well with inspiration and making things to suit my client's personal sense of style...but these events are wide open. "No parameters.," "Whatever I want...," Geeze, too many choices! Here is what fit the bill in March at the Bridal Open House with Brulee Catering and the Events Team at the NCC. Once again Peter Van Beever captured the centerpieces while he was there showcasing his amazing work to prospective clients. Thank you!

"Spring"

"Fall"

"Summer"

"Winter"

 ...and a fun seating card display - with a treat from the night's sponsor "Pearl Vodka"

WOAL Countdown

The WOAL (Wedding Of A Lifetime) acronym grew out of VOAL (Vacation Of A Lifetime) for my sister and I...We vacation every year together aiming for the best experience & most fun two gals can have (with their beaus in tow of course!) But on November 7, 2011 Mr. Holiday had a panic attack - VOAL 2012* was threatened because a certain Brit had proposed to our Fair Lady! It was true, Iain proposed and Jen said YES! I'm not gonna lie - I felt like a bad sister. I was unprepared for a Monday proposal & caught off guard - so when she called to tell me...I think I was a bit lack luster. I actually had to call her back once it hit me with all the emotions that were true...

That being said I think I might have gone on endlessly at consultations about "My sister this" and "My sister's wedding that"...thanks for letting me wax on ladies....I'm psyched for WOAL 2012! (yours will be prett good too! hahahahaha! No really!)

* Note: Mr Holiday has recovered & VOAL will immediately follow WOAL. So yes, either I am going on my sister's Honeymoon - or she is going on my vacation. Your peanut butter is in my chocolate...!

Just a little Pretty....

I stalked Ann Marie until she took these pictures of this little Fritillaria arrangement I made before we left a party she hosted at her gallery. Now, some people say they have a funky scent, and yes, most fritillaries contain poisonous alkaloids - but they are so darn pretty!

October Featured Artist: Shari Sikora

Great Florist - Terrible Blogger....but as I catch up and try to my posts I am pouring over the gorgeous images that photographers have so graciously emailed me I don't think I have taken the time to brag about the local artists that I like to include in my designs. So let me take a moment and introduce Clay Artist Shari Sikora.

Her artist statement starts out "I am an artist; it’s not what I do, but simply who I am and always have been." and it is so true. What she "Does" and how I met her is via Valley Press Inc. (a family owned custom pre-press, printing and finishing company I use in Bala Cynwd, PA. where she creates amazing designs and keeps me coming back because she reads my mind - especially when I lose my nouns.)

But I digress! Here is what she really does...

What she is, is an amazing artist who creates wonderful pieces in clay & uses the Raku method of firing. Ironically Raku means "enjoyment" or "ease" - which fits in perfectly since she says that "from the first day she touched clay she loved it."

You have seen her work in a number of shots (courtesy of AMC) where I used her fridge magnets as place setting decor. I have pretty much stalked her shows to purchase all the teal and gold flower button magnets. Each one is unique with vintage button centers she has lovingly selected from her mother's extensive (and I mean huge yet meticulously organized) collection. In addition to the local craft shows, you can see Shari's work regularly at the Potters Guild as well as Earth & State in Media, PA.

Support local art! Buy some pottery today!

Unpublished Gem No.1: IVC Open House March 2011

I miss you so much! Here is another post that got 1/2 way done before I got distracted by beautiful flowers and lovely brides...way back on...OMG! March 16th! Yikes! I am feeling some particular stress since we just wrapped up the October Open House at the IVC & I am worried AMC will hold the new images hostage! (Just kidding ...sort of...) Anyway check out these unpublished gems...

Ann Marie Casey (AMC) has been a busy photographer, here are a few real shots from our previously mentioned Open House at the Independence Visitor's Center (IVC) below. Check out the slides show to the right for more details. During set up she was 'yelling' at me to stop...I thought I had her behind schedule, but really she said "...I kept giving her too many things to shoot!" I met a lot of super cute brides at this event and booked 3 weddings! (which by now I am sure I should be posting their pics!)

 

You know how I like to rock out a "Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall" theme for open houses not only because I like to torture myself by trying to find out of season flowers but because it give visiting guests an idea of what their wedding could look like depending on when they get married! 

Winter

 

 Spring

 

Summer

Fall

Thank You IVC for showcasing the Grand Hall, Liberty Ballroom and Terrace, Brulee Catering for the delish dishes...

 ....and Isgro's Paticceria for my cake fix!