Twirl Boutique turned three this year and on Tuesday evening, owners Keri and Jenni hosted an anniversary party to celebrate. Their chic shop was packed with fun people enjoying vino and conversation. Liz Love had earrings for everyone who came and Will Mejia made Highrise Creative t-shirts for the ladies.

In addition to being stylish hostesses, Keri and Jenni arranged for a formal gown drive to donate to Hope for Uganda. I'll admit that when I first read the invitation I had no clue how the two went together. How did old bridesmaids dresses have anything to do with a country thousands of miles away in Africa?

Well it turns out that in Uganda, the custom is that a woman will wear up to five different dresses on her wedding day. Hope for Uganda is collecting dresses here and will open up a shop there. Women will be able to rent the dresses and the shop will run on a type of micro-finance premise, allowing the community to make money and not just rely on handouts from more financially prosperous countries.

AIDS was first discovered in Rakai, Uganda, and has subsequently ravished the area. 45,000 children have been left orphaned in an area of only 400,000 people. Food and medicine are necessary, as meeting physical needs is a huge priority. Meeting emotional and psychological needs is also important and that's where the dresses come in. For the women reading this, I think we can all agree that our weddings are a big deal and that we feel like we can take on the world when we feel beautiful - it is that empowering. I choked up a bit when they were talking about it the other night, and I'm tearing up now as I write this because this is a tangible opportunity to share those experiences of hope and value with other women.

The information about the dresses is not on the organization's website yet, but you can contact them via their online form if you want to be involved. They are accepting both formerly worn wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses.

I also want to take a second to note that the "trash the dress" concept and donating to organizations like Hope for Uganda are not mutually exclusive. Despite the name, dresses used in the "trash the dress" photo shoots are rarely damaged and are typically good as new after a run through the dry cleaners. It is possible to have the photos from those shoots and still donate the dresses afterwards. You can contact Hope for Uganda by clicking here.

Thanks Keri and Jenni for bringing attention to this great organization. Congrats on three years and here's hoping for many more!

The blogging bug is spreading, and joining the addictive world of cyberspace is none other than celebrity wedding designer Preston Bailey!

Known for his over-the-top designs, Preston continually wows high society clients, including Oprah, with his lavish creations.

His blog is still in the beginning stages, but I am excited to see what he has in store! His website has a new look too, so if you haven't been over there recently, check it out!

Today over at Create My Event, I talk about fun ways to spice up your wedding reception and give your guests something to talk about! Check it out here.

This morning we sit down with the talented and stylish Mackenzie Sala of KenzieKate and Something Old, Something New. Mackenzie's blog is always fun to read - it's a chance to feast on wedding eye candy, get inspired by fresh ideas, and get a peek into her life as well. For instance, in the blogging tag game (redubbed Eight Levels of Narcissism) where we were both tagged by Rhonda, she fesses up to being a Discovery Channel Shark Week addict, which thoroughly impresses me because I do not even like to think about sharks, much less see them voluntarily! Obviously she is one fun gal. So pour that coffee and scootch your chair closer as we get to know Mackenzie a little better!

Name: Mackenzie Sala
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn NY

Share some fun details about your home life:
I live with my husband, Dell, in a small apartment on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope. We both run our own business and we both work out of our home. Our next door neighbors happen to be some of our closest friends, and they both work from home too. It's great to have my friends and my husband around all the time, I'm never lonely.

How did you get started in invitation design? What was the inspiration behind your company, KenzieKate? What was the inspiration behind Something Old, Something New?
When I got engaged a few years ago I knew I wanted to create my own invitations. I was working as graphic designer at the time, and I had high expectations for myself. I wasn't able to find much inspiration online, everything seemed too white, too plain. I wanted color and pattern, and plenty of it! We ended up doing something completely new, from scratch, and I had a lot of fun working on them. All our guests really liked them, the wedding was a great success, and that was pretty much it. Until! . . . 6 months later, when my sister-in-law asked me to make her invites. Then a co-worker asked me to do hers, and then another co-worker . . . and on and on for about a year. Eventually I was spending most of my time on invitations and I was really having a great time. I knew there was a niche for my designs online, and that my patterns and my color sense would be unique in the field, so creating KenzieKate was the obvious next step. KenzieKate was launched in January of 2006, and it's been growing every since!

Something Old, Something New was created that April as a way for me to stay in touch with the design/wedding community. I spent all my time at home in my studio working with brides and vendors over the phone or by email, but I wanted to feel like I was part of a bigger group of designers, shop owners, brides, etc . . . I looked up to so many of the great design blogs, and my idea was to mimic them but with a focus on weddings. While the point of the blog was never to sell invitations, I do get a lot of clients who come to me through the blog. I find that brides who come to me through the blog trust me more, they know my taste.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
I love being my own boss, definitely that's the best part! But I also love that I get to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my husband everyday. I love to blog, every night before I go to sleep. I love that there are always comments in my inbox when I wake up in the morning. Surprisingly, I also really love building the invites, tying the bows, folding the paper, etc. I'm so busy most of the time, it's a great to just be able to turn my mind off, let it wander. I absolutely love it when a bride emails me after she's gotten her invitations, all excited and happy that everything is perfect. That's a huge rush. I guess I like quite a bit about my job!

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your field?
I wish that people wouldn't give brides such a bad rap . . . I've worked with many, many brides and not one of them was much of a 'zilla. In general, they're pretty happy, excited people. Happy, excited people are very easy and fun to work with.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
I've been hooked on bridal magazines since I started my blog. I have tons of them, dating back to 2003 all bookmarked and dog-eared in my studio. It was a major goal of mine when I started KenzieKate to get into the big national bridal magazines. The first time I saw a photo-spread featuring my invites in Brides Magazine, I really felt as if I had set a lofty goal and achieved it. My husband, my friends and I all went out to celebrate the day that magazine came out. I have like . . . 14 copies.

When you travel, what is one thing you can’t live without?
I have a set of Stephanie Johnson toiletry bags my mother-in-law gave me at my bridal shower that I won't travel without. I have 6 of them and each has it's own purpose; skin care, make-up, chunky jewelry, dainty jewelry, and hair accessories. I love that they all match, and that there is a place for everything. I'm not a super girly-girl, but these make me feel all put-together and ladylike.

Tell us some of your favorite shops, both on the cheap and to indulge:
My favorite clothing store, I guess it's pretty indulgent, is Anthropologie. I like to shop the sale racks, in fact, I almost exclusively shop the sale racks, otherwise it's a bit too rich for my blood.
If I just need a quick pick-me-up, something on the cheap, I go to Sephora. I can always find something in there that will make me happy for less than 30 bucks.

Let us in on one off the beaten path place we must visit while in your town:
Los Pollitos II in Park Slope on 5th Ave and St. John's has the best Mexican food in New York City. You can eat dinner for less than $10, and the margaritas are liquid gold.

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Sometimes a product comes along that causes you to go weak in the knees and exclaim "oh my dear, where have you been all my life?!" Well ladies and gents, right now that product is the Cupcake Courier.

Just what is this delightful contraption that I cannot believe we've lived so long without? Well, it's exactly what its name implies - a courier for cupcakes. This sturdy plastic box has three stacking, removable trays and a snap-on cover with a handle to easily transport all your cupcakes, or at least 36 of them at a time. Plus, if you take all the trays out, you have an instant cake courier too.

For an event, or for your child's class, this thing is sheer brilliance. The genius behind this godsend is Jennifer Gunn, sister-in-law to The Office's Jenna Fischer. Jenna gave one to Rachael Ray when she appeared on her show and the audience went crazy. I am sure you will see why if you watch this clip.

You can order these little beauties (and in different colors, oh I am in heaven!) at their website and they retail for less than $35! What a deal. Plus, with the opening of Sprinkles in Scottsdale this fall and the recent opening of Cupcakes at Hilton Village, there are lots of sugary treats just waiting for a good home.

One of the things that gets under my skin is when people refer to green weddings as a "hot new trend" or even a trend at all. The reason this doesn't sit well with me is this: trends come and go, usually staying on the scene for about three years. Caring about our environment and humanity should be an on-going lifestyle, not a flash in the pan feel-good idea.

Emily Anderson has written a book called Eco-Chic Weddings, about how to have "sustainable style before, during, and after your wedding." Her blog is also a great resource on everything eco-friendly. From sustainable honeymoons to organic linens, you're sure to find some great and stylish ideas.

Making a difference is not too difficult, it just requires small changes to how we think about and do things, and yes, even the words we use to describe it. And in the end, it's totally worth it.

The uber cute M & Co. Papery is having a sidewalk sale this Thursday through Saturday where the products outside will be 50-75% off! In addition they'll be serving refreshments inside the store and will have other select items on sale too.

This stylish boutique is located in historic downtown Mesa, and carries lush lines like Vera Wang and Anna Griffin, loungewear by Underglam and tons more.

Be sure to carve out some time for your visit - it is all too common to drop in for one thing and spend much longer soaking in all the beauty and must-have items.

This morning we sit down with none other than Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty and Abby Jean Press. Abby is always on her toes seeking the best of the best to share over at Style Me Pretty.

Abby is also running the second part of her inspiration board contest this week, so head on over there to see what your artsy side can come up with!

I'm skipping the coffee this week and sipping Kashmiri chai instead. Pour your own favorite beverage and join us as we chat with Abby in our Over a Cup of Coffee series:

Name: Abby Larson
Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Share some fun details about your home life:
My husband and I just closed on our first home in Charlestown, MA . . . our front yard is literally Bunker Hill Monument. It’s an amazing little town and we feel so lucky to be a part of such a richly historic place. My new pad provides constant inspiration . . . from the detail of the original crown molding, to the stunning views of the Boston skyline from my roof deck. I feel like a pretty lucky girl.

How did Abby Jean Press and Style Me Pretty get started? What was the inspiration behind it?
Abby Jean got started rather by accident. I had just quit my job working at a San Francisco based hedge fund and was looking to add a little creative spark to my otherwise dull life. I started playing around with some ideas that I had and designing invitations for friends here and there. One of my best friends, Jill, had one of my invitations in her hand when she was meeting with her wedding coordinator, Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event in Chicago. From there, Debi began placing orders with me. I scrambled a little bit in the beginning, though what began as just a fun project, turned into a legitimate business.

Style Me Pretty began just after I closed on the sale of Abby Jean. I was one part excited about my newfound freedom, and one part heartbroken at having to leave it all behind. So, I decided to start a blog (about 4 years after blogs became the rage), as a way to stay connected to my industry and stay fresh on all of the new products and ideas that were happening.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
I love stumbling across a new florist, or a brilliant stationer that I just have to write about. And even more than that, I love knowing that the big business of weddings is becoming more and more intimate . . . one man flower shops, stationery designers, coordinators, photographers. It’s the small, independent businesses that make the world of weddings so completely unique.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your field?
There is no right or wrong way to throw a wedding. A wedding should be a reflection of the couple and nothing else. A backyard BBQ is just as meaningful and memorable as a lavish ballroom affair. The most important thing is that the couple’s personality is infused into every detail.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
Oh gosh! Hmmm . . . a year ago, I would have said that the day Oprah Winfrey ordered stationery from me, was a day that would forever go down in my history. And now, I have had so many incredible moments. Honestly, successfully starting, running and ultimately selling a business is a huge accomplishment. It is something that completely blows my mind.

When you travel, what is one thing you can’t live without?
Well, my beauty pageant answer would be my journal. My honest answer would be mascara. How vain is that?

Tell us some of your favorite shops, both on the cheap and to indulge:
ABC Carpet and Home is far and away my favorite store. It is every designers dream. Bloomingdales is another favorite of mine . . . I can’t resist the Large Brown Bag. My favorite middle of the road store is High Fashion in Houston, Texas. It is floor upon floor of the most gorgeous fabrics known to man and they recently expanded to include an enormous selection of furniture . . . from the contemporary to the shabby chic, everything is drool-worthy. Plus, the prices are actually very reasonable. As for cheap . . . yes, Target is a must. But I also have a love/hate relationship with IKEA.

One off the beaten path place we must visit while in your town:
History buffs should visit the Warren Tavern in Charlestown, which is over 225 years old and the oldest working tavern in Massachusetts. It’s a very cool little spot. Design buffs should head to Garage Sale in Boston, a high end consignment store for the home . . . literally, the best of the best for 50-90% off. Can’t beat that.

Is there anything else we may be interested in?
I am in the throws of launching Style Me Domestic . . . a blog for the style obsessed dweller. I am hoping to bring the same sensibility of Style Me Pretty to my new blog!


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I never wanted to own a business. It's true. All the business owners I knew were slaves to their companies - the businesses ended up owning them instead of the other way around. I didn't see that there could be freedom in owning a business and so I didn't want any part of it.

Well here I am today (loving it by the way), and like most entrepreneurs I studied everything except business in school. I was introduced to the Personal MBA website recently and immediately was smitten. It is a great resource for the number crunching, plan writing, strategy developing side of running a business. And for those of you working in an artistic field like I do, you know that we need all the help we can get when it comes to the unglamorous administrative stuff!

Here's what they have to say about themselves:

"The core of the Personal MBA is a list of the very best books the business press has to offer. Some books will give you tools: processes or actions you can apply immediately to improve your life and work. Others will give you ideas: help in envisioning what you and your business are capable of becoming. All of them will give you mental models: useful ways of thinking about the world that you can use to your advantage in a wide variety of situations.

The Personal MBA reading list is the tangible result of hundreds of hours of reading, research, discussion, and evaluation. By reading these books and applying what you learn to your daily life, you will progressively develop a greater understanding of business and increase your effectiveness in the working world. Each book in the list has been selected for a single purpose: to maximize your educational return on invested time."

I love giving beautifully wrapped gifts, and if we're being honest here, I love receiving them too! This great giftwrap from Paporganics is both stylish and sustainable, made out of organic materials so that your gift giving can also be socially responsible.

Here is a blurb from their website with some more information about them:

"Inspired by the idea that environmentally sound paper can be beautiful too, we create stationery and gift wrap made from organic cotton, hemp and recycled fibers. Vegetable inks and responsible manufacturing practices bring our designs to life.

We couldn't do it any other way, because we believe our choices make a difference in this world. We also believe a gift from the heart and a hand-written note are among the joys in life, and our mission is to encourage this thoughtfulness while being mindful of our environment."

They also include these interesting facts on using recycled paper:

For every 40 cases (or 1 ton) of 100% post-consumer recycled paper purchased instead of virgin fiber paper, we save:
Trees: 59
Water (gallons): 10,195
Energy (000 BTUs): 13,815
Solid Waste (lbs): 1,1082
Water Borne Wastes (lbs): 69
Atmospheric Emissions (lbs): 2,098

While we can't do everything, it's important for us to do our part and I love that more companies, like Paporganics, are allowing us to make a difference with style.

I am not the first person to blog about this, but in case you missed it, Martha Stewart Weddings has started their very own blog called The Bride's Guide!

I am looking forward to editor Darcy Miller bringing some more chic and stylish ideas to the table, so check it out!

The rumors are true, MichelleAllen Photography has changed their name to Kimberly Jarman Photography. The fab Kim is still the creative genius behind the lens, so no need to worry about losing any of the quality or high caliber of service you've come to expect from them.

In celebration of this new chapter in her business, Kim has also launched a brand new, beautiful blog! Be sure to check it out!

Just to recap: here is Kimberly Jarman Photography's new website and brand new blog.

My main computer has crashed completely and it has put me in a bit of a spin since I run an almost entirely paperless office here at Blue Orchid Designs!

The good news is that I do run backup, so all is not lost!

All blueorchidweddings.com email addresses and website inquiries have been set up to forward to a gmail account, so during this time I will be able to access any email that comes my way. However, any emails sent to me recently are frozen in Outlook deep in the confines of a computer I cannot get into. So are all of my addresses and phone numbers that have not recently synched with my phone.

We are working frantically on getting this fixed, but please bear with us in the meantime!

Also, if you sent an email recently, please resend it. I am also going to ask that you please include your contact info in the email since I may not have access to that either.

Thanks! Things should be running smoothly again soon!

Create My Event is a blog full of ideas, trends and resources to help you design your next event, whether it's a wedding, dinner party or a girls night in. With professional advice from planners, photographers, stationery divas, and other trendspotters, you're bound to pick up some inspiration sure to wow your guests!

And no need to fret, I'll still be posting here on Tuesdays as well. :)

Here's another contest, and if you're in Arizona, this is one you don't want to miss out on!

My Wedding Film and Darby Elizabeth Photography have teamed up to give away a FREE Trash the Dress session to the person who comes up with the best way to trash their dress and make beautiful photographs from it.

Here is the official blurb from the My Wedding Film blog:

"One of the hottest new trends in wedding photography right now is Trash The Dress. Basically its where the bride decides to give her dress a proper send off by getting wet, dirty, and just having a blast doing stuff you'd never dream of doing in a wedding dress. How fun!! To give you an idea of the amazing possibilities here is a great blog to check out TrashTheDress.com

So My Wedding Film has teamed up with Darby Elizabeth Photography to give away a FREE Trash The Dress session. Basically we are going to pick one lucky bride who will get a Trash The Dress mini-Film and Photo Session.

How do you enter? We want to hear some great ideas on how you would Trash The Dress. Send me an email at ande@myweddingfilm.com with the subject line of "I want to Trash My Dress." The person with the coolest TTD idea wins."

Also, there are some exciting things on the horizon over at Trash the Dress, and yes, that's all I'm going to tell you! You'll just have to add them to your blogroll so you don't miss out on the fun!

Sylvia Weinstock is known as the “Queen of Cakes” and rightly so – her intricate and luxurious designs have graced the events of Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, and a long list of other A-list celebs. The Saudi royal family even hired Sylvia to design a cake to serve 3,000 people for a wedding celebration and then had it flown non-stop from New York to Saudi Arabia. Talk about detailed service! In addition to baking cakes, Sylvia is also the author of Sweet Celebrations: The Art of Decorating Beautiful Cakes - a great resource for all of you who like to play domestic diva in the kitchen.

I had the opportunity to chat with Sylvia over the phone recently and am excited to feature her today in our Over a Cup of Coffee series. So grab that cappuccino and let’s get started!

Name: Sylvia Weinstock
Location: Manhattan, New York

How did you get started in cake design?
There was no one really doing it. Cakes had a bad reputation and were considered dry and beautiful, and I was a baker – I wanted to make a delicious cake that was beautiful. If you make the ornaments in advance then it takes very little time to make a beautiful cake.

What was the inspiration behind your company?
It started when I was baking cakes and people loved them. It was the beginning of a business.

What do you feel was your tipping point, or when you really started to take off?
1980 in Manhattan.

Was there anything particular that happened in 1980?
No, I was just the new kid on the block doing something beautiful and delicious and unusual and spectacular.

When you have celebrity clients, do you find that they are willing to give you more creative control or do they still want to be involved in the design process?
I think both. I think all brides are very similar in that they have thought about their wedding since they were a little girl, dreamt about it, had a vision about it, and are happy about it. We take directions from our brides.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
I suppose meeting the client and designing a special cake for them is my favorite part.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your field?
I wish they appreciated the labor intensive work that makes it so beautiful and appreciated the delicious wonderful cake that was created for them.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
I suppose walking down the street when someone says, “you did our wedding cake”, and then we remember doing it and are thrilled we had your cake.

When you travel, what is one thing you can’t live without?
I think you need your ticket for the flight! No, I travel very light.

What is one of your favorite shops to indulge?
Bergdorf Goodman. I’ve also done cakes for three of the president’s daughters’ weddings and also the president of Bergdorf Goodman, so I have a loyalty to them. I also like the store.

Tell us one off-the-beaten-path place we must visit while in New York:
My shop! New York is wonderful.


Joe Photo was gracious enough to provide this photo of a cake Sylvia did for a wedding he shot last September. (see right) Thanks Joe!

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For those of you looking for stylish invitations for your next soiree, but don't want custom, check out Wedding Paper Divas. They have a great online ordering system and carry some fab stationery by inpiring designers who have been featured in In Style, Blueprint Magazine, Real Simple and more.

Below are some of my faves (I tend to be drawn to clean and simple lines, but I adore paisley and naturally, tiaras) and there are tons more on their site. Also, I love that because you can choose the wording for each, you can choose the design you want and create it for any type of event - you aren't just limited to weddings.





An added bonus: Enter the code SUMMER07 for 5% off until September 30th, 2007!

#42 of 101: read others' blogs more frequently and comment on them

Blogging, for a business, is so important. Not only does it allow you share what's going on in your world but it pushes you to be creative and keeps you from getting in a rut as you see what others in your community are doing. As artists, this is so important. It is also beneficial because it allows people to see the faces behind your company and makes you more accessible and real. In a post-modern generation, authenticity and transparency are valued more than almost anything else, so being accessible and real is key in keeping a business relevant to today's culture.

Most people, when they start a blog, think that it's something they can throw together in their spare time. Only after they get started do they learn that it's a lot of work. May I repeat that?? Blogging is a lot of work. A lot. My friend Khris, over at DIY Bride, recently had a post on the behind-the-scenes tasks that go into keeping a successful blog. She also runs a forum for brides there, so hers is a little more involved, but the principle is the same. Here is some of what she and Kathleen Fasanella of Fashion Incubator had to say about it:

All day long, every day, Monday through Sunday (no days off):
Deleting spam comments
Responding to comments
Writing to people who comment
Responding to reader emails
Deleting bogus forum registrations (30+ a day)
Responding to forum topics
Moderating the forums, deleting spam.

Daily:
Writing entries and sometimes even posting them. (This cracked me up! I’m entirely guilty of this.)
Reading what other bloggers write on my topics of interest.
Taking calls/emails from genuinely nice people with a “quick” question -at no pay
Researching and compiling resources of interest to DIYers.
Visiting industry-related sites and associations.
Monitoring and tweaking SEO. This is an ongoing, tedious task.
Check MySpace. Add new friends. Respond to comments.

Weekly, off and on:
Checking for updates, plugins and utilities for the blog
Brainstorming for ideas for features, projects, and topics. I keep copious notes.
Keeping up with the field via traditional media.
Monitoring and posting to other forums
Tweaking the site templates, updating links, fixing configuration errors.
Monitoring site stats to see who’s sending me traffic. I often post on referring blogs.
Uploading and editing photos, one of my least favorite activities. It also takes time (you wouldn’t think file organization is an issue but it is). This is one reason I’m doing fewer tutorials lately. The rest of the site work eats into my time. (Couldn’t have said it better!)
Creating projects, writing instructions, taking photos. There are so many things I have offline right now, it’s not funny.
Network with other bloggers and industry folk online and off.
Research business stuff: blogging, advertising, marketing. Lots of reading.

Monthly/Intermittently/Occasionally:
Searching for sites reposting my original content.
Modifying widgets, spam blockers, keeping up with the latest blog software and forum software updates.
Field calls and emails about “business opportunities”. Find out who’s legit, who’s a scammer; evaluate if offer is good for me.
Investigate ad and sponsorship opportunities.
Mentor other bloggers, writers, crafters.
Review submissions from guest writers.
Research project ideas, resources, ideas for new books.
Investigate new features for the site, test them out. Decide to implement or pass.
Update /monitor Flickr and YouTube. I’m pretty lax on this, actually.

As you can see, it's a tough job being fabulous and witty all the time! So when I was creating my 101 in 1001 goals list, I decided to be more intentional about reading others' blogs and commenting. Comments are addicting, I will be the first to admit, and part of it is because they are proof that you are not the only one out there admiring your own handiwork! So even though I feel I have successfully completed this goal, it is one I am going to keep doing. :)

Yuck. Money. The subject no one wants to talk about but we all have to deal with, especially when it comes to weddings. And it's no secret that weddings are expensive - even an intimate, backyard ceremony with a handful of guests can stretch the wallet fairly quickly. I wanted to get into the reasoning behind some of the common pricetags and help put some of the sticker shock at ease.

But it's just some pretty paper: Invitations
A good rule of thumb when budgeting for invitations is this: a decent (read: nice quality, but not necessarily elaborate) invitation should cost around the same price as a greeting card. While we may buy greeting cards here and there as the occasion calls for it, you normally don't purchase 150+ greeting cards all at the same time. If you want a custom invitation, you can expect to pay more because you are compensating the artist for her designs, proofs, revisions and edits, assembly and general labor.

All you're doing is pushing a button: Photography & Videography
If all you want from your wedding are pictures that look like snapshots your slightly inebriated Uncle Frank took, then there are plenty of moonlighting hobbyists-who-call-themselves-professionals to choose from. If you want art and photographs that will capture the emotion of the day, then realistically you need to expect to pay more. Photography can easily be one of the most spendy parts of the wedding and for good reason - when all is said and done, that is what you will have left (well, that and your spouse of course!). I have met many, many married women who regret going cheap with their photography. Also, the final product usually doesn't come out of the camera ready to go - a lot of behind-the-scenes editing and design goes into producing great photos. If you're having video, you can count on hours of editing, including finding the right moments to splice things in, cueing the appropriate music to match, etc.

So you're like JLo in that movie: Wedding Planners
No, I'm not like JLo and wow, did she make my job look easy! Hollywood has a knack for doing that though, don't they? The biggest thing you are paying the planner for is her time - the average wedding takes more than 250 hours to plan and there are only 52 weekends in a year. Both of these facts limit how much we can take on and commit to. It may seem like you are paying the planner for one day, but in reality 250 hours translates into more than six 40-hour work weeks. And that's just for your normal, run-of-the-mill wedding. If you want something unique and special, even more time is involved.

They are just going to die tomorrow anyway: Flowers
Even flowers from the grocery store can be pricy - that is just the nature of a live element. When purchasing flowers, you are paying for so many things - the grower's cut (planting, growing, watering, feeding, harvesting), the packaging and shipping of them in a manner that they will not wilt or die on the way to your location, and then the florist's fees (design, watering, prepping them with special concoctions that prolong their lifespan, arranging, delivering, etc). Yes, a lot goes into those pretty bouquets.

It's just some fancy chicken: Food
Hands down, food is usually the most expensive item on the budget, and again quantity plays a big role. A nice dinner for two can sometimes be a splurge and when you're feeding 150+ mouths - well, I'll let you do the math. It is also important to look at quality when you are choosing your menu, and quality costs more, just like it does in every other part of life.

There are lots of areas of weddings that I didn't cover here, but I wanted to give a quick overview of some of them. The time-tested adage "you get what you pay for" has been proven over and over again with weddings. You don't need to break the bank on your wedding or try to keep up with the Joneses - but it is important to go into the wedding planning process with an understanding of where your money is going so that you can best prioritize its use.

Holly over at decor8 recently ran a contest where the rules were to match a card from Fabulous Stationery to three rooms. The focus and structure of this particular project is great because it challenges your eye to look for specific elements. You not only have to think about color, but also need to take into consideration the lines of each piece and the atmosphere the room portrays.

I chose a change of address card as my piece to work from and the room mockups and accessories are all from Brocade Home. So nice of them to do the bulk of the legwork for me! :) I love that the damask patterns of the fabrics accentuate the curvy lines of the chair in the card and that the lamps, although cylindrical, have the same straightforward modern approach as the chandelier.

In case you missed it, I launched the Over a Cup of Coffee interview series this week. Our first conversation was with Grace Bonney of design*sponge, an interior designer who's been featured, well, everywhere. Click here to read her interview.

Over a Cup of Coffee will happen every Monday - so grab an espresso, latte, chai, whatever - and kick off your week with a peek into the lives of the best of the best in the wedding, social entertaining, and design communities.

There are some AMAZING people on board for this so far and I have just been floored by their willingness to share their stories. I am impatient and want to post them all right now, but I am having to practice that fruit of self-control. Did I mention it is a stellar lineup and I am excited?

If you haven't subscribed already, be sure to do so. You definitely won't want to miss out!

Wedding planners are similar to general contractors in that we take your vision and then figure out who needs to do what in order to make it happen. As a result, I absorb a lot of information in my search for inspiration and resources to make your day truly remarkable.

In my constant research one thing remains true: wedding books tend to be more of the same. Read one and you've read them all - they're the same ideas, same principles and same checklists, just slightly repackaged and with a glossy new cover.

Two authors stand out however for producing stylish and chic resources chock full of not only beautiful pictures that visually portray the concepts, but also advice and the reasons behind why each piece works the way it does. A wedding book with useful information and gorgeous photography? It's true - they do exist and they exist in the form of Karen Bussen's Simple Stunning Series and Jo Gartin's Weddings: A Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride.



Both professional wedding designers, Karen and Jo infuse a wealth of experience into the pages, leaving a book that is useful not just for weddings, but for any social event you may find yourself hosting.

Bonus: Right now Karen Bussen's Simple Stunning Wedding Showers is on sale at Amazon for $4.50 for a brand new copy! It is usually $22.50, so that is a swingin' deal not to be missed!

Hello. My name is Liene and I'm a coffee-a-holic.

I've gotten better about it recently, cutting down on my intake and drinking juice and water instead, but these thermal java sleeves from Cup Couture may be the very thing that makes me fall off the wagon:



Dubbed Cupcoats, these sleeves are an "eco-chic alternative" to the cardboard sleeves you so often find at your local coffeehouse. You know the ones - they slide around and don't fit well, often trying to spring back to their flat shape, leaving your cup jostling precariously. And they rarely ever live up to their insulating duties, leaving your fingers burning but yet unable to let go because of the deliciousness waiting for you within the cup. With Cupcoats you get a "dual-core thermal barrier". I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sold.

And you get to be stylish to boot! Check out some of their artsy and fun designs:



These would be great as a stocking stuffer or as a gift for that person who has everything.

Yay, it is finally time to let you know that Rikki, The Invitation Lady herself, has launched her brand new website! The new site was designed by Will Mejia of Highrise Creative and he did a knockout job, even winning a Prisma award for her new logo.

Rikki designs custom invitations and if you have ever tried to cut cardstock exactly straight and glue a bajillion rhinestones and tie hundreds of delicate ribbon pieces, you know it's a tough and tedious job and one that is better off outsourced to a professional company such as hers. Her meticulous attention to detail results in a stunning product every time. Check out the buckle on the boxed invitation in the picture above - I love it!

They also include the disclaimer that they "cannot be held responsible for celebrations or babies had just to feel the sheer satisfaction of sending out a personalized announcement from A Square Pair". Luckily for you, with the holidays coming up (can you believe it's August already? Where has this year gone?), you have the perfect excuse to send some of their fab creations to all your friends and family. Check them out.

Grace Bonney is the author and design diva behind the ever-inspiring design*sponge series of websites and blogs. If you haven't been to her blog already, you must go! Now! She also has a blog over at House and Garden.

Grace has been featured in a plethora of magazines and sites, including the New York Times, Domino, Vanity Fair, Glamour, and Newsweek. I am so excited to feature her as the first in our series of "Over a Cup of Coffee" interviews with professionals who have raised the bar in the social event and design industries. So grab your latte and kick back as we chat with Grace.

Name: Grace Bonney of design*sponge
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Share some fun details about your home life:
Let's see, I live in Park Slope with my boyfriend and our two cats. Despite being something of a design freak our home is constantly in transition with unfinished projects everywhere. Looking at so many beautiful things all day has rendered me completely incapable of making a decision in our own house.

Fun? Well, we certainly have fun watching cheesy reality shows. It's our guilty pleasure: Rock of Love, Making the Band, Hey, Paula, we love them all.

How did you get started in design? What was the inspiration behind it?
I've always loved art and architecture (I'm the product of parents who have a deep love for photography, architecture and interior design) but I never really knew about the field of design until I was in college. I was a fine art major but something just wasn't clicking. I remember my professor asking what I loved about art and all I talked about was how I loved making over people's dorm rooms and building my own furniture (ala Trading Spaces, with which I was obsessed). She said "you know, we don't really do that here, but you should look into a degree in design". I remember feeling like I'd been living under a rock for the past 18 years. Design? You can do just that? Ever since then I've never looked back. I've been devouring design magazines, books, television shows, classes and fairs since my sophomore year in 2000. It wasn't until my boyfriend suggested I start a blog that it all came together. I was able to combine my love of publishing and magazines with my love of design in a way that felt like me.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
It changes every year - when I first started I loved being able to connect with so many people who loved the same things I did. Until then I thought I was the only weirdo who constantly pointed out the chairs and wallcoverings in restaurants instead of the food. After the first two years I really relished being able to be my own boss and make decisions and changes about the site based on my own needs. Now that it's been three years what I enjoy most is using the platform of a blog to provide a resource for up-and-coming designers and to help women in design network with each other.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your field?
Design isn't just about furniture and pretty rooms - there's a real art and skill to creating an environment that's both welcoming and beautiful. I think design blogs, bloggers and designers themselves often get written off as sort of shallow or obsessed with something like pillows and wallpaper. I appreciate how difficult it is to contribute an object to society that is both well-designed and functional. Those pieces, whether they're a great armchair or well-designed set of salad tongs are important to making our lives richer in some way.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
I think hosting the Biz Ladies Nights. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I walked up the stairs at DWR in Brooklyn to see 160 women sitting there, waiting to meet each other and help each other with their businesses. It was a proud moment, and nice to be able to connect people and then step back and watch them do such amazing things.

When you travel, what is one thing you can't live without?
Aaron, my boyfriend. If he wasn't in the seat next to me to remind me that turbulence doesn't mean we're all about to die a fiery death I think I'd never travel anywhere. That and he's awfully fun to hang around with.

Tell us some of your favorite shops, both on the cheap and to indulge?
The indulge is the easiest - ABC Home and Layla (in Brooklyn). I could buy textiles there till I'm 95 and never get tired of it. That said, I don't think I've ever bought more than one or two pieces in either place - it's so expensive that it's more of an imaginery indulgence.

My favorite cheap shopping destination would probably be Target - but only the Targets in the suburbs. The Target here in Brooklyn is one of the most depressing places on earth. They never have anything in stock and I think a lot of people use it as a place to dump off their kids while they have lunch (much like Ikea in NJ). There are always at least 3-4 kids running around with food in their hair without anyone looking after them. Whereas the Target in Va. Beach where my parents live is always super clean, organized and the staff actually offer to help you.

Let us in on one off-the-beaten-path place we must visit while in your town:
In Brooklyn? I'd say it's a tie between Layla in Carrol Gardens and Sodafine in Williamsburg. They're both really unique shops you won't see in other cities.

What other juicy tidbits do you think would interest us?
This September I'm relaunching D*S off of Blogger, which I'm really excited about. It's going to be a great combination of form and function. Prettier (for me) and easier to use (for anyone reading). ;)

Get your style fix! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on our future Over a Cup of Coffee interviews!

Let's face it: everything looks better in the right light. Even on a philosophical level, but we're not going to dig into that today. We'll leave those discussions for college campuses, beatnik coffeehouses and cozy dinner parties with wine and friends. Today, we're exploring lighting as the key, the secret ingredient if you will, to any great event.

Lighting is hugely elemental in setting the atmosphere for your wedding. Dim the mainlights and fill the room with pinlighting, strategically placed uplights, candles and some paper lanterns and you've got a romantic and calming mood, like this affair from FeteNY:



Throw some colored lighting into the mix and you get a chic area with a hip vibe, like this lounge area Colin Cowie created for Oprah's million-dollar wedding giveaway:



While your wedding budget doesn't need to be a million dollars to afford great lighting, these pictures are great for inspiration. One helpful trick I find in event design is to dream big and then scale it down to what is realistic for you and your wallet. Here are some individual elements that can help you do just that . . .

If you're having a reception in a tent, these chandeliers from Taylor Creative Props are a classy and stylish addition:



These ottomans from the same company (first saw these over at Ready 2 Spark) bring the glow from the ground up. Love them!



And these LED panels, also from Taylor Creative would be fun for a wedding with lots of dancing and a club feel. Check out how cool the ghost chairs look in front of them, absorbing whichever colors are on display:



A lot of venues, especially those that are hot spots for corporate events, already have extensive lighting equipment available to rent through their facility. This is great because the people setting up and running it for you are already accustomed to the layout and details of your specific location.

Professional lighting also gives you better photographs - lights pointed at the centerpieces will cause them to look more vibrant and certain lighting shades, including reds, pinks and lavenders will flatter almost any skintone.

The possibilities with professional lighting are endless! Have fun and let your creativity run wild as you come up with ways to use this resource in making your wedding or event stunning!

This short video pokes some fun at buying wedding flowers. You can watch the accompanying video about cakes over on Weddingbee.



If you need a florist who does great work, check out Melissa and Dianna at Tabletops Etc or Gina at Fiori Floral.

I am so excited to introduce a new segment of the Blue Orchid Designs blog called "Over a Cup of Coffee".

In it I'll be sharing interviews with some of my favorite bloggers and professionals in the wedding, social entertaining and design industries. These are people who have set a high standard in this industry and who continue to strive to raise the bar. We'll get into why they do what they do, things they can't live without and even their insider scoop on hot places in their respective cities.

I am super excited with who's on board for this so far. There are going to be some great interviews! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out - this is going to be fun!

There is currently a blogging game making its way around the blogosphere and I've been tagged by both Laura at Soiree Special Events and Rhonda over at Our Wedding Plus to spill the beans on eight random facts about me. I have a weakness for these types of trivia lists, so without further ado, here is more than you probably ever wanted to know about yours truly:

1. I first learned how to drive in Mexico, on a dusty dirt road in an old pickup with a standard transmission.

2. I don't own a television and I love to read books like a little nerd. I still manage to watch The Office though - afterall, my future husband stars in it and I need to be supportive of his career. I do not feel the need, however, to be supportive of his recent movie. Blah. Save your $10.

3. I spent much of my formative years at Jack Murphy stadium. My parents were huge baseball fans and they'd just take me with them instead of finding a sitter. Yes, I know the name has long since changed and that there's a new stadium downtown, but I refuse to recognize either of those facts. I am loyal.

4. I drink my coffee black. No cream, no sugar. Except in the instances when I have a sweettooth and order a caramel macchiato. In which case there is both cream and sugar. I am fairly certain I have put many a barista and/or their children through college.

5. I had a debilitating illness in my early twenties that caused sporadic paralysis and left me unable to walk for hours at a time. For real. I take a lot less for granted now.

6. I have a tattoo. It says "love mercy" in Chinese.

7. I met one of the princesses of Brunei while hiking through a rainforest there. Her entourage of M-16 toting bodyguards was our first hint that she wasn't just another gal out for an afternoon stroll. I have a picture with her, but I look positively awful in it so it's not getting posted. Vain, I know.

8. I can't cook but my 101 in 1001 goal list includes learning how and doing it well. I once set my kitchen on fire and all that went through my head was "stop, drop and roll!" Apparently that only works if you are the one on fire.

Now it's my turn to tag 8 others or I will break the chain and a horrible hex will be cast on my future. Or something to that effect. The lucky winners are:

1. Cicely at Life Design Event Planning
2. Heather at Outstanding Occasions
3. Shannon at Riso Studio
4. Lily at Lily and Tulip
5. Sasha at Sasha Souza Events
6. Rikki at The Invitation Lady
7. Kim at Parisian Events
8. Khris at DIY Bride

Ok, so this one is not a Blue Orchid Designs sponsored contest, but I just love the gals at this company so I wanted to pass the news along to you:

My Wedding Film recently launched their new website with new videos to watch. The cool part is that you can rate them and get great ideas for your own event all at the same time!

Here is what the lovely Ande, co-creative genius behind the company, has to say about it:

"I want to tell you about a contest My Wedding Film is throwing. Here is the scoop. We just launched a new website with a unique video gallery. It's interactive and allows you to vote for and post comments for your favorite wedding films. (Kind of like YouTube.)

Because it's new we want to test it out...so we are going to give away a $100 gift card to Bath and Body Works, Target or i-Tunes to a lucky person who posts a comment on one of our videos. Once we get 100 comments we will randomly select a winner out of the first 100 people who posted a comment for one of our videos. We'll post the winner's name on our blog! To make it easy for us to find the lucky person please put your name in when you post (if you include your email address we'll email you if you're the lucky winner). To check out our video gallery just click here!

Thanks so much for helping us test our new video gallery!"

So go check it out! And if you win, you must share. It's only polite. :)