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“Crash The Wedding” Charity Bridal Event

Posted by Jason on Friday, August 6, 2010

Southern California brides and grooms: here’s an event suggestion that came my way and I wanted to post it as a heads-up. It’s a completely for-charity bridal event being held on Tuesday August 10, and the organizers have sent us the following to pass along:

“Crash the Wedding” is the hottest new wedding show to hit the bridal industry.
Brides and grooms are welcome to RSVP to be a part of this historical event. It’s a
mock wedding. It’s a bridal show. And it’s all green!

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Time: 6pm-10pm
Location: Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

At this new take on wedding shows, you will experience an exquisite live mock
wedding first hand with the top luxury bridal industry specialists in the area at
one of the most beautiful locations in Southern California. You will have the
special opportunity to get a behind the scenes look from the specialist’s
perspective as they disclose their secret tips and tricks to help you plan your
perfect wedding. The entire event will culminate with an exciting LIVE auction with
100% of the money raised to go towards our charity, Step Up Women’s Network.

It’s the perfect date night! You will receive a food tasting, wine and cocktails,
along with a swag bag filled with tons of gifts and special offers. Tickets are
$100 per couple and are subject to availability. Seating is limited.

For more information and to RSVP go to crashthewedding.com

Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo Credits: Logo and screenshots from crashthewedding.com

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First Ever J.Crew Wedding Boutique

Posted by Crystal on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

If you’re in the NYC area don’t miss the grand opening of the first ever J.Crew bridal boutique at 769 Madison Avenue in New York City. Darcy Miller, Editorial Director of Martha Stewart Weddings, will host the launch party on Wednesday, June 2. View the party invite here for more details. Martha Stewart Weddings & J.Crew have also teamed up to bring you a chance to win a fantasy wedding wardrobe trip if you can’t make the launch party.

Below are the J.Crew bridal gowns for Spring 2011, they are simply adorable, I love all the vintage and feminine details!

{Photos from J.Crew’s Wedding Lookbook}

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Bay Area Nearlyweds Pampered Sunday @ Treasure Island

Posted by Jason on Monday, March 1, 2010

Sunday February 28th was an absolutely beautiful day in the San Francisco Bay Area, the perfect backdrop for the free Pamper Yourself event hosted by Jade Studio Productions at their Treasure Island studio, as Crystal announced in her post last week. The Pamper Yourself Event was presented by “Ah…New Beginnings” Professional Wedding Consulting, Enchanting Events, and Iridescence Bridal Couture, and if you’re a Bay Area engaged couple I sure hope you took advantage and stopped by. The weather was perfect, the event was free, the studio was charming and creative, and there were a ton of great information and giveaways by all the wonderful vendors that made the event happen. If you missed it, we’ll keep you posted on their next collaborative bridal fair.

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. Here, Judy Lee of Iridescence Bridal Couture discusses a bridesmaids' dress styling

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 Couture. Gown on right is a blend of hemp, silk, and other green materials

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 idea for your reception!

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

Eleanor Abril of 2inspire Designs showing off her beautiful calligraphic penmanship

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

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Free Pamper Yourself Event Sunday In SF Bay Area

Posted by Crystal on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to check out The Free Pamper Yourself Event happening this Sunday, February 28th at Treasure Island, California. You will have the opportunity to experience unique products and services in an exciting and interactive environment, featuring vendor demonstrations and workshops.

Go to Tickets & Reservation and register by Friday, February 26, 2010 to reserve your swag bag. Admission is FREE!

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A Soolip Wedding 2010

Posted by Jason on Monday, February 22, 2010

This past Sunday Feb. 21 I attended the upscale Southern California bridal fair A Soolip Wedding, held this year at the gorgeous Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. As I mentioned last week, I’ve exhibited at and attended the event in the past and was a bit struck by how much lighter the traffic and overall size this year’s was, no doubt a testament to the economy. Soolip’s Wanda Wen and all the great wedding professionals still pulled off a classy and resource-packed event, though. If you are planning a SoCal wedding, hopefully you were able to make it.

The venue itself is truly grand, both in size and beauty. Vibiana is a restored former archdiocese cathedral, and any event held here is going to be breathtaking. I’d imagine that weddings with a smaller guest lists could easily find themselves overwhelmed by the scale of the space, but for a large event it would be amazing.

There was plenty of food and drinks available, along with some great panels on hand to field questions at the “Engaging the Experts” sessions. Lots of inspirational booths and exhibits, as well. All in all, a great event to attend for those planning a wedding in the area.

Inside the Vibiana, a former archdiocese cathedral

Wolfgang Puck chefs preparing some tasty samples

Wolfgang Puck chefs prepare some tasty samples

Beautiful (and delicious!) creations from Vanilla Bake Shop, whose Amy Berman was on hand to answer questions in the "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" Engaging the Experts session

Chic booths aplenty, including this one by A Private Affair Events

Some of Soolip's paper creations

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Don’t Miss L.A.’s Upscale Bridal Fair “A Soolip Wedding”

Posted by Jason on Thursday, February 18, 2010

If you’re planning a wedding in the Los Angeles, CA area, here’s an event you won’t want to miss. This Sunday, February 21, “A Soolip Wedding” will be hosting some of the most unique and distinctive bridal resources in the Los Angeles area, and is a must for all brides- and grooms-to-be, wedding planners, and those looking for some haute inspiration in SoCal.

The event, which has been running since 1999, was created by Wanda Wen, founder of boutique stationer Soolip (soolip.com). A Soolip Wedding is a celebration of inspiration and “discovery of amazing style,” says Ms. Wen. The idea is to showcase the absolute best in all wedding resource categories and present them to the upscale modern bride in Los Angeles. Also featured are fashion shows and a number of “engaging with the experts” sessions, during which you can engage panels of etiquette gurus, beauty professionals, culinary experts, and more.

WedShare has exhibited at A Soolip Wedding in the past, and I’ve attended myself, so I’m familiar with the event…it’s a good one, and you’ll find a lot of inspiration here. Plus, the venue itself is absolutely amazing.

If you’re in the area I highly encourage stopping by; tickets are $35 if you purchase online by Saturday, and they include your chance to win a number of quality raffle prizes (can you say 6-night stay in Bora Bora for two?) Here’s Sunday’s schedule, and you can find all the details on the Soolip Wedding website, or by calling Soolip’s information line at (310) 628 - 9930.

A Soolip Wedding 2010 Schedule of Events
Sunday, February 21

11:00am - 3:00pm Vendors open for exhibition

12:30pm - 1:00pm Monique Lhuiller Fashion Show

2:00pm Cake & champagne in the Courtyard

2:30pm Raffle

3:00pm Event Concludes

I may attend the event to check out this year’s exhibitors, and if so I’ll put together a follow-up post next week.

Photo Credits: Photos from A Soolip Wedding 2009

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International Wedding Festival Makes San Francisco Debut

Posted by Jason on Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Northern California’s International Wedding Festival is a wedding expo and bridal fair with the underlying theme of celebrating cultural diversity. The intention of the show is to highlight the colors, traditions, sounds, and tastes of different cultures in weddings today. Vendors and wedding professionals of different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to participate. The event’s fashion show features cultural dance as well as products by clothing designers of western (and not-so-western) styles.

Models show off Swati Couture's South-Asian-inspired fashion line at the International Wedding Festival in San Francisco this past Sunday.

Of course, culture is an important part of who you are, and it will influence the choices you make when planning your wedding. It can especially be interesting when you and your spouse-to-be are of different cultures, different faiths, or both. How you express yourselves with your wedding celebration will be the most important part of the end result. And, for me anyway, what makes memorable weddings stand out from all the rest is when a couple’s own unique personalities and styles are really well represented and thoughtfully expressed.

The International Wedding Festival has a track record in more inland areas of Northern California; locations like Modesto, Livermore and Stockton have been their bread and butter. This past Sunday was the show’s first foray into the city by the Bay, more our neck of the woods, so I dropped by to check it out.

The venue was the very impressive Westin St. Francis Hotel of San Francisco, which boasts quite a beautiful ballroom. It’s also conveniently located across the street from Union Square, a shopping and tourist hotspot, so there is plenty of local interest for out-of-town guests. Do pay a visit if you’re considering a wedding in San Francisco.

One of three main ballrooms of the International Wedding Fesitval in the Westin St. Francis this past Sunday

The International Wedding Fesitval was held in the Westin St. Francis of San Francisco this past Sunday. Forefront: cake by The Buttercream Studio (thebuttercreamstudio.com)

There were a number South Asian vendors and wedding professionals, and many western vendors as well, so the show’s signature line of “East Meets West” was fitting. The fashion show highlighted Swati Couture of Milpitas, with South-Asian inspired styles, colors, and fabrics, along with dance by Fashion Rhythm Dance Company and Leung’s White Crane Lion and Dance Association.

My favorite part of any wedding show is always chatting with the local wedding professionals, and hearing their entrepreneurial stories. Always so inspirational! As I mentioned in my last post, these hardworking folks really put their hearts and souls into what they do. Take Tracy Auseklis of The Buttercream Studio, who started her cake business a year ago with her husband right after their own wedding. In fact, they launched The Buttercream Studio with money that they saved by opting out of their original big-wedding plans in favor of something a lot more simple. After scouring the Bay Area for a location, they finally found a former Domino’s Pizza shop in South San Francisco and poured everything they had saved into the fledgling business. When Tracy recounted the endless scrubbing of “black grease” in the beginning, I was reminded of what makes the entrepreneurial spirit–and therefore the wedding industry–so special.

Tracy Auseklis, founder of The Buttercream Studio, at Sunday's International Wedding Festival

The International Wedding Festival will be appearing throughout the next few months in several northern California locations, including Modesto, Stockton, Livermore, and even a reprise of their San Francisco debut. Check their website for the latest schedule.

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Great Time At Wish Upon A Wedding Launch Party

Posted by Jason on Monday, February 1, 2010

Last week I introduced the launch of one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization Wish Upon a Wedding, and Crystal and I were lucky enough to attend the launch party Thursday evening. The setting was the beautiful Montalvo Arts Center, nestled in the Saratoga CA hills. It looked absolutely spectacular at night, with its Mediterranean-style architecture bathed in soft pastel lights.

Montalvo Arts Center at night for the Wish Upon a Wedding's launch party

Montalvo Arts Center at night for the Wish Upon a Wedding launch party

Montalvo Arts Center photos from Wish Upon a Wedding’s Facebook page via Danielle

It was also a heartwarming get-together, reminding me about how extraordinarily caring, thoughtful, and generous the good folks of the local wedding industry are. These entrepreneurs and business owners put their hearts and souls into their hard work year after year, creating wedding memories that will last a lifetime for each one of their clients.

Wish Upon a Wedding depends on these independent wedding professionals to donate their time and money to create a wedding for engaged couples facing life-threatening illnesses. Recipients may have been given literally months to live by their doctors, and so you can imagine the work involved in putting together a wedding that will need to take place mere weeks or even days from the recipient’s acceptance. All the details of a recipient’s wedding will come from these generous “wish granters” donating their resources.

It was nice to meet and congratulate the generous and thoughtful folks organizing this great cause, including Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, and Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events. Sasha’s blog, if you don’t already follow it, is a must read at sparkliatti.com.

While attending the launch party, we learned that Florence and Michael, the very first wish recipients, have just been selected! Florence was diagnosed with breast cancer, recently underwent surgery for a double mastectomy, and has been given one year to live by her doctors. But–dark prognosis notwithstanding–there is also a love story, and thanks to Wish Upon a Wedding, Florence will be able to enjoy a beautiful wedding on March 13, something she hadn’t dreamed possible financially or practically. Read more about Florence and Michael at the Wish Upon a Wedding blog.

Florence and Michael, Wish Upon a Wedding's very first recipients!

Truly inspiring! Have a fantastic week, everyone.

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“Wish Upon A Wedding” Launch Party Tonight

Posted by Jason on Thursday, January 28, 2010

I wanted to introduce a brand new nonprofit organization, Wish Upon a Wedding, dedicated to granting weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for couples facing life-threatening illnesses. It’s the only organization of its kind today. The group is just now accepting applications for wedding wishes, and will be drawing on a regional database of wedding vendors to coordinate granting those wishes for recipients.

Wish Upon a Wedding was founded by San Jose wedding planner Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, and will be drawing upon a regional database of wedding vendors in their quest to make wedding wishes come true. Props to Liz and San Jose Wedding Consultants for all their thoughtfulness, time and effort putting this together. How meaningful this can be for so many couples facing challenges I can’t imagine.

To celebrate their launch, Wish Upon a Wedding will be hosting a party tonight from 6:30pm - 9:30pm at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, CA. The details are provided at the following RSVP Page. I am planning on attending, and look forward to congratulating the group on their launch. If you’re local, please do drop by and support them. Hope to see you there!

RSVP for tonight’s event at pingg.com/rsvp/xpxde8n36rk5mi2fg

Photo Credits: pingg.com

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New WedShare Facebook app: integrate wedding guests & facebook friends, plus share your event details on your profile! http://bit.ly/boUdzB

2010/08/21
Happy Friday! Here's an inspiration board for a vintage yet modern wedding in teal blue & green: http://bit.ly/cpIs4i

2010/07/30
Sweets for an early weekend start: Gourmet donuts for your wedding http://bit.ly/ahXZLu and Star Wars groom's cookies http://bit.ly/btXyzM

2010/07/23

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{ Planning Events }

“Crash The Wedding” Charity Bridal Event

First Ever J.Crew Wedding Boutique

Bay Area Nearlyweds Pampered Sunday @ Treasure Island

Free Pamper Yourself Event Sunday In SF Bay Area

A Soolip Wedding 2010

Don’t Miss L.A.’s Upscale Bridal Fair “A Soolip Wedding”

International Wedding Festival Makes San Francisco Debut

Great Time At Wish Upon A Wedding Launch Party

“Wish Upon A Wedding” Launch Party Tonight

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