The event will run from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and will highlight the best of everything bridal. If you’re into couture boutiques, then the setting is enough of a reason to attend, as Melrose Place is the spot for the trendiest and most fashionable shops LA has to offer. Three distinguished bridal designers, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera & Temperley London will open their stores and unveil their collections with intimate, informal modeling. And in an update, we were just notified that among the event’s speakers will be Patti Stanger, host of Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker.

Also on hand to showcase their luxurious products and services–as well as answer all your questions–will be top wedding professionals and vendors including skin health experts Kate Somerville, Bacara Resort & Spa, Williams-Sonoma, London West Hollywood, Bella Bridesmaid, Patina Wedding and TravelStore Platinum. Plus, you’ll get the latest on all aspects of planning your big day at the event’s expert panel discussions.

Tickets are $30 if you register online in advance, or $40 at the event. For more information and to register for tickets, stop by the event website at unveiled.com. You can also follow Unveiled on Twitter and their facebook fan page to get the latest scoop.

Today I came across these super cute Crepe Paper Rose Pomanders made by Shelley Smith from the House of Smiths blog. Shelley’s easy and inexpensive DIY project is perfect for any wedding reception or bridal shower decor. Make sure you head over to Shelley’s blog for more DIY projects and tips.

Here are the DIY step-by-step instructions from Shelley:

Craft Supplies Needed
Styrofoam Ball Forms
Crepe Paper Streamers {Color of your choosing}
Glue Gun & Lots of Glue Sticks
Roll of Tape
Measuring Stick

1. Cut the crepe paper strips at 24 inches in length.

2. Crumpled the strips to make them softer and more fabric looking, then straighten them out.

3. Begin to roll, starting small… and then get a little looser, like a real rose.
Periodically, about 4 or 5 turns in, put a dot of glue on the end, by your thumb, to keep it from unraveling.

4. Wind the paper around the middle base roll, and twist at the same time so that it looks MORE like a rose and LESS like a cinnamon roll. Be patient with the first few flowers. It takes a couple to get it down. But once you do… you’ll fly through them!

5. Here’s the end of the rose. Gather the end piece of crepe paper and then add a dab of glue to the outside of the rose itself, and stick it on the edge.

6. Set it down… and let the glue do it’s magic!

7. Seriously, you CAN’T mess these up! After you have a few roses done, start putting them on the ball.

8. If some roses have longer stems than others just cut off the stem so that they can sit nicely flat on the ball form.

9. Add a little puddle of hot glue on the ball, lightly press the rose on and you’re good to go!  Use a roll of tape to help keep the ball from rolling around on the table. Make sure not to put the roses TOO close together or they’ll look crowded.

10. Once they are all done, use ribbon and some sewing push pins to adhere the ribbon to the ball and hang them anywhere you want!

Here’s another way Shelley displays some of these rose pomanders. They are simply charming!

{Photos provided by House of Smiths}

Image From Walt Disney Pictures

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Some of us here hit the movies for the Tim Burton flick Alice in Wonderland; Crystal posted a few fun inspiration boards last week based on the film, and I wanted to see whether the movie did Lewis Carroll justice. I suppose it’s hard living up to such a legacy…cinema has been trying to capture Carroll’s bizarre works of word and logic play for decades. This new attempt combined elements of both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, then mish-mashed it with some of Burton’s own creative wackiness and digital cinematic wizardry. I thought the story was a little thin, but it was a fun 3-D ride, colorful and entertaining. My own favorite part of the movie, hands-down, was Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen, without which the movie may have been somewhat lacking.

Speaking of cinematic wizardry--I guess Oscars weekend put me in the mood--here’s a bit of light-hearted and creative fun to start off the week: a video Save-The-Date by Russo Young that I found on the Brooklyn Bride. I’ve said many times before that pulling off a truly memorable wedding depends on how much you are able to infuse it--down to the smallest details--with your own unique personalities to make it stand out. Video is a medium that really lends itself to this; a video save-the-date like this is a fun and creative way to showcase your energy and personalities. Add a soundtrack that means something to both of you--in the case of this video, it’s the score to Where the Wild Things Are--and just have fun with it. Email the video to your guests, post it on your wedding website, or even distribute it on mini-DVDs. I love how this couple weaves in footage from each of their childhoods, too. What a great touch!

There’s a ton of movie-editing software out there these days, so grab a camcorder and some creativity and make a project out of it!

Today’s board is for an Alice in Wonderland Vintage Wedding, inspired by Tim Burton’s version of the Alice character. Using muted colors with antique, vintage details will give a very whimsical, fairytale-like feel to your event.

Don’t forget the “Drink Me” and ”Eat Me” labels throughout your beverages and sweets for that signature Alice theme.

Looking forward to catching the movie this weekend. Can’t wait!

{Photo Credits: ROW 1: Collection of Antique Clocks by Elizabeth Messina Photography, Vintage Table Setting by Brandon Kidd Photography, ROW 2: Cupcake on Plate by My Vintage Party, Drink Me Bottle by Palachinka Blog, Bride & Groom With Flamingo by Jenny Packha, Yellow Teacup Set by My Vintage Party, Teacup with Tea Infuser via La Belle Vie, ROW 3: Lazaro Bridesmaids Ice Blue Dress Style LZ3640 by JLM Couture, Pink Vintage Button Bouquet by whimsylove via Flickr, Flowergirl Holding French Macarons by Sarah Kaye, ROW 4: Alice in Wonderland Rabbit Coasters by Elizabeth Messina Photography, by Jose Villa via Cameron Ingalls, Alice In Wonderland Cake by Cake Nouveau}

Imagine an afternoon bridal shower in a beautiful garden with all your girlfriends. Vintage teacups with plates for drinking tea and eating tea sandwiches and yummy desserts. Have colorful glassware for fresh lemonade or a signature cocktail as well besides the tea. Floral arrangements on teapots are a great way to decorate a long rectangular table for a tea party theme. I love the look of having old, unmatched chairs with or without cushions for the seating arrangements. Ask your girlfriends to wear a colorful dress so that everyone is part of the theme. And don’t forget a game of croquet with your girlfriends as part of the fun bridal shower activities.

{Photo Credits: ROW 1: Bridesmaids Playing Croquet by Lula Kate, Flower Vine Pergola Path via La Belle Vie, ROW 2: A Very Un-Bridal Brial Shower Invitation by LindseyRyanDesign via Etsy, Bride With Pink Head Bow via Wedding By Color, Lawn Flamingos by Michelle Rago Ltd, Flower Centerpiece via Wedding By Color, ROW 3: Shabby Chic Chairs by Lisa Lefkowitz via Style Me Pretty, Alice in Wonderland Teacup Tags Table Setting by Alexandria LaNier via Flickr, Bridesmaid in Blue Dress by Alex Ramon via String Magazine, ROW 4: Bridal Shower Tea Sandwiches via Country Living, Teacups via La Belle Vie, Whimsical Knot Garden by Wendell Webber via Brides, Alice In Wonderland Bridal Shower Cake via Disney Parks Blog}

I’ve been anticipating Tim Burton’s new Alice in Wonderland film coming out in theaters everywhere this Friday. I’m a big fan of Tim Burton’s creative work, and I can’t wait to go check out this whimsical story made for the Disney Digital
3-D experience.

Naturally I’ve been so inspired this week by the visuals of the film and decided to do my interpretation of an Alice in Wonderland Wedding inspired by Helena Bonham Carter’s character “The Red Queen”.

This one is for non-traditional couples out there looking for a more unconventional style wedding, with the color inspiration being red, black, white, and gold.

I’ll be posting more Alice in Wonderland inspirations Thursday and Friday, so come back to check them out.

{Photo Credits: ROW 1 Red Reception Table via Designs4Living Blog, Love Garland via Country Home, Ashlee Simpson & Pete Wentz Alice in Wonderland Wedding Invitation via Just Jared, ROW 2 Wedding Cake via Bliss Tree, Fornarina Heart Front Heeled Court Shoes via Spoiled Brat, Macarons au Foie Gras by Pierre Herme via Luxeat.com,
ROW 3 Red & White Rose by twoblueday via Flickr, Alice Bride in Red Dress Nat Lynn Photography, ROW 4 Alice in Wonderland The Red Queen Dress by Sue Wong for Walt Disney Signature, Groom With Top Hat via Paper Doll Life, MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Dinnerware via Neiman Marcus, ROW 5 Down The Rabbit Hole Into Wonderland Brooch Necklace by cocoachuchu via Etsy, Heart Cupcakes via Bakeaholic, Girl With Heart Shaped Balloons via Happy Housewives Club}

Back in January we introduced you to the great non-profit organization Wish Upon A Wedding when we attended their launch party. This week, we are more than happy to raise awareness for this wonderful cause by providing more information and reminding wedding professionals what they can do to help.

Wish Upon A Wedding was founded January 2010 in San Francisco, CA by a group of wedding and business entrepreneurs, and is America’s FIRST nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, producing weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness, regardless of sexual orientation.

Chapters:
They now have twenty chapters nationwide, headed by some of the industry’s most renowned leaders with plans to expand to over 40 chapters worldwide.

Presidents:
Sasha Souza, National President & SF Bay Area President
Kevin Covey, LA/Orange County
Stella Inserra, New York
Ivy Robinson, The Carolinas
Eliana Baucicault, Atlanta
Mary Alice Sublett, Tennessee
Heather Hamilton Sims, Houston
Mark Kingsdorf, Philadelphia
Shelby Tuck Horton, DC
Elisa Delgardio, Orlando
Ali Phillips, Chicago
Daniela Isabella Ferdico Fagét, Seattle

Forming Additional Chapters:
Other chapters opening soon include Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Boston, Colorado, Arizona, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Ohio and Nevada.  They are also planning to open chapters in other areas depending on need including international chapters. If you wish to start a chapter, please fill out the online form for consideration.

Who Is Behind Wish Upon A Wedding?
Many influential people in the industry are beginning to endorse Wish Upon A Wedding, and you can find those endorsements on their website. They also have amazing people sitting on their Boards and Advisory Panels throughout the US, such as Dana Larue Stiebel “Broke-Ass Bride” {LA Chapter PR Chair}, Leila Khalil {National PR Advisor}, Beth Helmstetter {National Outreach Director}…just to name a few of their amazing friends and advisors. They would love to have you join as well, either as a board member or wish granter!

How Wishes Are Granted:
To qualify for Wishes, applicants must be unmarried legal citizens of the United States, over the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with less than three years to live. Couples can be granted wishes either in the chapter where they live or in a chapter of their choosing as long as they are able to make the trip.

Couples can simply apply online to request one of three wedding types:

URGENT (Up to 10 guests, in hospital or at bedside);
BOUTIQUE (up to 25 guests, in home town of applicant);
ROMANTIC (Up to 50 guests, at any Wish Upon a Wedding destination)

How Can You Grant Wishes?
As the organization is growing, Wish Granters are needed in all locations. Please apply online today to start helping make Wedding Wishes come true. In two weeks, Wish Upon A Wedding will be granting the very first wish. To read more about that wish and the couple please visit the website.

Melissa Ann Bagley Photography has been covering weddings internationally for 15 years, and saw a need for a more off-the-beaten-path online wedding publication, for which she envisioned and created IZZY Magazine.

Online interface for the premier issue of Izzy Magazine

I wanted to extend my congratulations to Ms. Bagley on the publication, and to say thanks for providing a great online resource for nearlywed couples. I was lucky enough to meet her at the launch; very gracious, sweet, and seeming a little shy, Ms. Bagley gave me the impression that she wasn’t especially comfortable being in the spotlight. I’d say more at home on the “other” side of the camera. She’s a very talented photographer and in just the short time I met with her I could tell how warm and friendly she is as well, obviously doing just what she loves.

According to Ms. Bagley, her goal is “to create a magazine that will inspire others and share the things she loves with the rest of the world. And, at the same time be a guide to brides that are planning weddings outside of the norm.”

It is a wonderful resource, and I encourage all brides- and grooms-to-be to check out the premier issue. Also, keep up on the latest with IZZY at the IZZY Magazine Blog and Facebook Fan page.

Photo Credit: IZZY Magazine cover image from the IZZY Magazine Blog

I especially liked the demonstrations and workshops that were ongoing throughout the event; every 15 minutes or so a new one would begin, along with raffle prizes for the attendees. And there were spa facial treatments, makeovers, and other pampering sessions to enjoy as well.

Following are some of the highlights we captured while visiting. Scroll to the end of the post for a complete list of attending vendors and links to their websites.

Guests mingle with wedding professionals in one of Jade Studio Productions' gallery rooms

Demonstrations were ongoing throughout the event, which I thought was an especially nice touch. Here, Judy Lee of Iridescence Bridal Couture discusses options for bridesmaids' dress styling

Eco-friendly options by Iridescence Bridal Couture. Gown on right is made from a blend of hemp, silk, and other "green" materials

Flower display by De Young Flowers

Cakes by Goldilock's Bakery

Baked goodies and gelato station provided by Kicks Cookies and Ice Cream. Great reception idea!

Eleanor Abril of 2Inspire Designs shows off her beautiful calligraphic penmanship

Stationery design by Susanne Wong of Cards De Luxe

I’d say the event was a great success, thanks to the involvement of all the following wedding professionals:

“Ah…New Beginnings” Professional Wedding Consulting (wedding day coordination)
ahnewbeginnings.com

A Touch of Elegance (chair covers and wedding planning)
touchofe.com

Blu Edge Productions (deejay)
bluedgepro.com

Brides Magazine (magazine and wedding planning website)
brides.com

Cards de Luxe (invitations)
cardsdeluxe.com

Corelli Strings (musicians/string ensemble)
corellitrios.com

De Young Floral Events (florist)
deyoungfloralevents.com

Enchanting Events (wedding day coordination)
enchantingevents.biz

Goldilock’s Bakery (wedding cake)
goldilocks.com

Hartmann Studios (furniture, tables, chairs, linens rental)
hartmannstudios.com

Here Comes the Guide (wedding venues and services)
herecomestheguide.com

Inspirational Floral Design (florist)
inspirationfloraldesign.com

International Vineyards (wine)
intvin.com

Iridescence Bridal Couture (wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses)
iridescencebridal.com

Jade Studio Productions (photography/videography/photo session venue)
jadestudioproductions.com

Kicks Cookies and Ice Cream (ice cream sandwich dessert)
cookiesandicecream.com

Marcos and Marcos DDS (cosmetic dentistry)
marcosandmarcosdds.com

North American Theatre Technology (lighting and special effects)
itsabouttheart.com

NU Skin (anti-aging products)
ns-spa.com

One World Designs (bridal hair clips and jewelry)
one-world-designs.com

Pear and Pepper Catering (food and beverage catering)
pearandpepper.com

Sherrie Long Make-Up and Hair (bridal hair and make-up)
sherrielong.com

SmartWater (bottled water)
vitaminwater.com

Susan Fong (Ballroom dance instruction)
susandfong@aol.com

2inspire Designs (Calligraphy for invitation envelopes & placecards)
2inspire.etsy.com

Wedspace (wedding planning & social networking for engaged couples, vendors & guests)
wedspace.com

West Coast Bartending (bartending school)
westcoastbartender@yahoo.com

I wanted to start the weekend by sharing Jessica + Franklin’s vintage engagement session in downtown Milwaukee. This adorable photo shoot was captured by the talented Anna from Anna Page Photography. I love it when couples make creative use of props to showcase their passion for something they have in common. In this case, Jessica and Franklin are showcasing their love to travel with a pair of vintage suitcases. Their simple yet stylish outfits are super cute and very vintage appropriate. It’s great to go around downtown and just pick some great backdrops for your photo session; I particularly love the turquoise wall with its great contrast for some amazing outcomes. Check out Anna Page Photography Blog to view more beautiful photo sessions.

Thanks Anna for sharing these with us!  Have a great weekend everyone!

{Photos by Anna Page Photography Blog}