Nichole and Mike got married about a week and a half ago on a beautiful evening in Phoenix. The skies were clear and it was the perfect setting for their outdoor reception, which was done around a 1930's vintage glam theme. I'll post more of their pictures later on when I get them and talk more about the design process, but right now I want to talk about Nichole's veil - and perhaps the inspiration for the entire wedding itself!

Designer Stephanie Kennedy, owner of Stephanie James Couture, has carved a niche for herself in the bridal world by producing stunning and glamorous fashions with a vintage feel. Seriously, sometimes when I'm feeling uninspired, I wander over to her website for a style pick-me-up. She is that good.

So when Nichole told me that she was having Stephanie make her a custom veil, I was super excited. I knew that it would be the perfect accessory to the custom dress that designer Rebecca of Jewel Couture had sketched and was making for her. And we were right - the veil was beautiful and simple - it didn't detract from Nichole's radiance and it tied everything together.

For those of you in the Phoenix area, you can see Stephanie's line for yourself at Uptown Bridal in historic downtown Chandler. Their cute boutique is well worth the trip to the Southeast part of the Valley.

The picture above is by the talented Cherie Chavez who took pictures for Malia and Dortha of Set the Mood Floral, the awesome florists who did an amazing job on all the arrangements. You can see more of Cherie's and Set the Mood's work on Cherie's blog.

Thanks so much to everyone who called, emailed and texted birthday wishes yesterday. I am blessed.

My favorite thing about this birthday was the card I received from my 7 week old nephew. Okay, so his mom filled it out and signed his name, but still, it was my first birthday card as an aunt, and I loved it!

It is no small secret that I am not a fan of "girly" drinks. My friends tease me that I drink like a guy because I prefer red wine, dark beer and strong whiskey. As far as I'm concerned, coconut and strawberries belong on cake, not in beverages. That being said, get out your martini glasses because I am about to share with you a recipe for the best darn cosmo you will ever taste!

This recipe comes from my friend Sharon, the author of the Diva Blog, a real live opera singer, and the epitome of all things stylish and feminine. I first had these cosmos at her bachelorette party a couple of years ago and all my prejudices towards this drink were instantly melted away. I think the secret to its deliciousness is that it does not include any Cointreau whatsoever and most cosmo recipes do.

The World's Best Cosmo

In a cocktail shaker, combine with ice:
2 oz vodka
1 oz Rose's lime juice
1 oz triple sec
anywhere from a splash to 2 oz cranberry juice, depending on your preference

Mix well and pour into a glass. Add a slice of lime for garnish and enjoy!

{photos: Nickel cocktail shaker and Dorset martini glass, both from Williams-Sonoma}

related posts: The Perfect Cosmo :: Non-Alcoholic Version

The shops at the Borgata and Hilton Village, including Destiny's Bride and Twirl Boutique, are hosting a bridal evening next Friday, November 2nd at the Borgata's center court. What a fun and stress-free way to check some items of your wedding to-do list.

I've been blessed to have been able to live and work in some developing countries, and as a result of those experiences, issues of debilitating poverty have a huge part of my heart (see the "change our world" link under the Resources tab above) and I feel strongly that micro-finance projects are a viable solution to breaking the cycle. So when Dilia, from the new venue, Inspirador, sent this email yesterday, announcing that they have partnered with NEST, an organization that offers micro-lending to women, I knew that I had to share it with you. I love that the wedding and event industry is embracing social responsibility on different levels and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Here is the news from Inspirador:

"We are delighted and honored to introduce to you one of our newest exclusive ventures for the upcoming Inspiration Lounge and Inspirador. As many of you already know we strive to find unique and inspiring ways of making life's celebrations more meaningful. One of our missions is to continuously align ourselves with like-minded companies that seek to make a difference in the world through entrepreneurial efforts.

We are thrilled to introduce you to Rebecca Kousky, Founder and Owner of NEST. Nest is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries through micro-lending programs that create sustainable art and craft based entrepreneurial businesses. The funds for these loans are generated by selling a unique line of clothing, accessories, art, and merchandise for the home (a.k.a. “nest”). Rebecca and Nest has been recognized in Martha Stewart Living Magazine and voted “Young People Who Rock” on CNN.

Rebecca will be personally flying into Arizona for an exclusive preview of Nest, the Nest mission, and a “Shop To Save the World” evening of fun, purpose, style, and shopping...exclusively at Inspirador!

This Holiday Season...Shop to Save the World!

YOUR MISSION: As a designer/artist or friend of a designer/artist you think would like to make a difference, simply sell your stylish products, art, and gifts for this special evening. We’ll be inviting hundreds of brides, art lovers, and more for this special event. We simply ask that 10%-25% (you choose the amount) of all proceeds from the evening are donated to NEST. We’ll bring the crowds of people to show you off, you bring the great products for the shopping savvy, and we all make a world of difference by helping others “build their own NEST”.

To RSVP your space at the Nest Trunk Show exclusively at Inspirador, contact Amy Marvin, Creative Director at (888) 638-2671 or email: amy[at]inspirador[dot]com."

What do you get the people who are standing with you on your wedding day, other than the common jewelry for the bridesmaids and cuff links for the guys? Here are some ideas:

baby it's (not so) cold outside
Okay, maybe it's cold where you are, but the memo that it is the middle of October and thereby Autumn has not yet reached Arizona. It was 97 degrees on Friday when we were setting up for an outdoor wedding. (My poor assistants - I don't know what I am going to do when they realize that being on their feet for 16 hours straight is not their dream job.) Regardless, the thought of being cold and bundling up is delicious right now and I love these pinstriped cashmere scarves and two-toned cashmere scarves, both from Red Envelope:


domestic divaness
These may be a bit on the impractical side, especially of your bridesmaids are coming from out of town, but as a not-yet-recovered-probably-because-I-haven't-even-attempted-to-be addict to all things dishware, I think receiving the cubist cocktail set would be a nice break from the norm. Plus, you can skip the alcohol and use them to serve chilled hors d'oeuvres. Or buy two sets and serve both simultaneously. A gift that multi-tasks. Who doesn't love that?


wined and dined
Again, this one is a bit on the impractical side as far as luggage packing is concerned, but the l'atelier du vin decanter and developer is another great gift for the wine connoisseur. Plus it is just so pretty.


music to my ears
Perhaps the most fool-proof gift, for men or women, is an ipod. Ranging in price, with the ipod shuffle being the most affordable, they are great for travel and are guaranteed to be used.

{photos from Red Envelope and Apple}

{Today's guest blogger is none other than Jennifer Sbranti, the hip hostess herself from Hostess with the Mostess and the artistic talent behind Sbranti Design. If you are not yet familiar with Jenn's site (and really, how is that possible?) then scoot over there asap to check it out. I was thrilled to see the topic of Jenn's guest post because the only direction I had given her was "sky's the limit". As it turns out, she is writing on her friend's vintage Hollywood glam wedding, which is similar to the theme that Nichole and Mike, my couple getting married this evening are doing. I love when things synch like that! So, without further ado, here's Jenn . . . }

My wonderful friend Jen got married over the summer, and - being the creative and detail-oriented person that she is - the wedding she created for her and new husband Kevin was nothing short of spectacular! The theme of the wedding was "Old Hollywood Glamour" - and the feel was definitely reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour but with a chic, modern twist. There were so many amazing details - from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding and reception decór, but in order to keep this post from being a mile long, I'm going to highlight just a few of the unique touches I think you might especially enjoy... :)

The wedding was held at a country club in Tarzana, CA (the same club that Curb your Enthusiasm fans might see Larry David playing at from time to time!). The wedding Chuppah was Silver Dupioni Silk "Cabana", embellished with deep "paved" rose tie-backs. Also pictured below is a top view of the beautiful bridesmaid bouquets.


The bride wore a beautiful Duchesse Silk gown by Ines Disanto, in a mermaid silhouette cut with a trumpette skirt. The gorgeous barrette worn in her hair was a Deco Broach from Ben Amun that she sewed onto a hair comb. Also pictured below is a cute pair of "I DO" underwear by Hanky Panky ($38 at Bloomingdales). She sewed a small blue bow on the back of them as her "something blue".


The bridal bouquet was created with deep red roses and deep plum Callas, then tied with silvery ribbon and adorned with a gorgeous "brooch" that was actually part of a $10 crystal ponytail holder purchased at a wig store!


The bridesmaids wore silver silk tafetta dresses by Tadashi. The dresses had a pretty black lace overly with subtle beading that matched the wedding theme perfectly!


The photo booth was definitely one of the highlights of the reception! There were feather boas and fedoras for the guests to dress up with in the pictures - and then custom-designed guest book pages where guests were asked to paste one copy of their photo strip and write messages, favorite memories with, or well-wishes for the new couple. Jen and Kevin had so much fun looking through and reading the pages the next day - she said several of them were hilarious!


Jen & Kevin also ended the night on a very sweet note. Individually packaged cinnamon rolls from Cinnabon appeared at midnight to give guests a late-night snack to munch on after working up an appetite with all that dancing :) And when guests went back to their cars after the night was over, they each found a bag of Hershey kisses hanging on their rear-view mirror. The kisses included a note from Kevin & Jen that said "Enjoy these Goodnight Kisses...Thanks for making our Wedding so Sweet!" A very sweet ending to a very sweet AND very fun celebration!

Call me old fashioned, but I love the look of videos shot in 8 mm film. I know, I know, I am usually one who is all about digital, but I still love the artsy, grainy look of film. Usually though the companies you can find to shoot in this format are, ahem, lacking in quality. And there is still so much that can be captured via digital that is not as easily captured using the traditional methods. So what's a bride to do?

My Wedding Film is no secret in the Phoenix area but they house one of the Valley's best kept secrets, and that is that they also offer super 8mm film in addition to shooting digital. If you're on board with going retro and choose that option, their final DVD (and yes it is still delivered to you in DVD format - no need to bust out the VCR's) includes a combination of digital and 8mm film to give an amazing blend and to give couples a truly one of a kind video.

Here is a short highlight reel in super 8mm from a wedding where the bride chose this option. This one is my favorite of the ones they have on their website:

Tomorrow Nichole and Mike are tying the knot and we're doing a vintage glam 1940's theme for the decor. The ceremony and reception will both be outdoors and the weather has been gorgeous and more than accommodating recently. I am really excited for these two and for their families coming into town for the celebration.

You can get a sneak peek at Nichole's custom dress by checking out the post designer Rebecca of Jewel Couture featured on her blog. There are also some pics of her veil, which was custom designed and made for her by none other than Stephanie Kennedy of Stephanie James Couture in Southern California (who by the way, has a new blog you should add to your list).

Since I'll be out of the studio all day tomorrow, we'll have another guest blogger that you definitely won't want to miss, so be sure to check in for that!

This past weekend was the wedding celebration of Chris and Adrianne, one of my favorite couples so far. Okay, so I know I say that all of my clients are my favorite, but shh, don't tell them that. :) I really am blessed that I get to work with such great people - it is a luxury that I didn't always get in the corporate world.

On Friday, Adrianne and Chris had their rehearsal dinner at Asia de Cuba inside the Mondrian Hotel in Old Town Scottsdale. We initially looked at a lot of different options for the rehearsal, but chose the Mondrian for its laid back, yet still upscale atmosphere. Here are some non-pro pics from the evening and as usual, my photo skills are seriously lacking. You'll have to imagine everything being cuter and a lot more chic. And a lot more in focus. :)

Part of the reason we chose the Mondrian was because it is stylish all on its own. Because of this, we didn't need to dress it up with linens or other rental items that would have added to the expense. We were able to put what the hotel already had to its best use. This white lounge area lining the wall in the private dining room is a perfect example of that:



The restaurant also had tons of these glow vessels that were set out to add a romantic vibe:


Avant-Garde did the floral arrangements and were so awesome to work with. We gave them a budget and a color scheme and let them come up with the rest. Since the wedding itself was going to be very traditional in both style and decor, we decided to stay with the modern theme of the Mondrian for the rehearsal dinner flowers. Adrianne chose bright pinks, oranges and greens to offset the white on white of the venue.


I loved the open tulips:

and the vivid colors of the Gerbera daisies:

{planning tip: There is no etiquette rule that says you have to use the same style or colors for everything at your wedding. It is perfectly acceptable to give each event a different feeling and it helps break up the monotony of same, same, same.}

The place cards were made by the Rene and her gals at Celebrations in Paper. We chose a silvery grey ink color and accented it with a Swarovski crystal to give it a bit of depth and yet still retain the simplicity of the overall decor:


During the cocktail hour on the patio, guests had an option of three different non-alcoholic signature drinks: tropical lemonade, raspberry lime cocktail or a papaya peach martini. Here are some of the glasses being prepped:


During dinner, guests were offered a choice of three different wines in lieu of a full bar:


After dinner, which consisted of lemongrass skewered chicken and marinated palamillo of lamb, among several other dishes, dessert was served and included chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate and coconut "sushi". The dessert was a very big deal to the bride and we ate a lot of chocolate at the preliminary food tastings to make sure it was up to her expectations (food and wine tastings are the days when my job is really hard).

For favors, the pastry chef created a variety of handmade truffles for everyone and they were packaged in frosted take out boxes in keeping with the modern Asian theme of the restaurant. The larger boxes included the gifts for the bridal party:


In an interesting twist on our original plans, Al Gore's celebratory party for winning the Nobel Prize the day before took place next door in the main dining room that same evening. I want to publicly give a HUGE thank you to Jen Sorlie and the Mondrian for honoring the contract for the rehearsal dinner that we had in place originally. It would have been a nightmare to try to source and reserve another venue for the dinner on short notice and I am really grateful we didn't have to.

{planning tip: A lot of hotels and venues have an "out clause" of sorts in their contracts that says, in more legal terms, that if something better comes along, they reserve the right to bump you. Some even go as far as to say that they retain the right to keep your deposit. So you have the chance of being out of a venue and your initial deposit. Make sure you go over your contracts with a fine-tooth comb so that you know exactly what you are signing!! You may be surprised to learn that many reputable hotels have these clauses too!}

{Note: for some reason, this didn't post this morning like it was supposed to. At any rate, it is still Monday, so it still counts!}


Today is Blog Action Day, a day when people around the world are focusing on one topic: the environment. I invited several other stylish bloggers to join me in talking about this specifically as it relates to weddings and entertaining. I am really excited that several are on board and I'm sure you'll be seeing lots of chic green inspiration around the blogosphere today.

You don't have to move into a tree to have a green wedding. The key, as with any social cause, is to do what you can, in areas you are passionate about, and not try to tackle it all. I've shared some green entertaining ideas on here before, so today I wanted to focus on the behind the scenes actions of your wedding choices.


As more and more people embrace caring for the environment, more companies will begin to produce eco-friendly materials. BBJ Linen is an example of a company that takes social responsibility to heart. Not only are they one of my favorites for their impeccable service and attention to detail, but I love that my clients can use them in good conscience. BBJ Linen does carry organic materials, but perhaps more importantly is what happens in their warehouse.

Think of all the weddings that happen every weekend and multiply that by the number of table linens, napkins and chair covers that get used for each event. That's A LOT of linen to be washed and processed. BBJ Linen has implemented post-production procedures that include using cleaning chemicals that are less harmful to the environment and methods that conserve energy and produce less waste. While the tablecloths you fall in love with may not be made out of eco-friendly material, the long-term process behind the scenes is now a lot more sustainable.

I'd encourage you to keep these types of things in mind as you choose your vendors as well. Ask them how their companies are focused on the environment and social responsibility. Choose companies that not only make a beautiful product, but make it in a way that is good for the earth and humankind.

{photo from BBJ Linen}

While most of the country is winding down with weddings, here in Arizona we are in the throes of wedding season. This probably has something to do with it being a gorgeous 70 degrees right now with clear blue skies and pretty desert mountain ranges. Jealous yet? Come visit!

Today kicks off a fun wedding weekend for a wonderful couple that I have had the pleasure of working with since April. We'll talk more about their wedding events next week and hopefully I'll have some pics from my point and shoot to share.

And I am excited to let you know that tomorrow we'll have our first ever guest blogger! So be sure to check back for some fresh perspective on things and leave lots and lots of comments so they feel loved! :)

I saw this picture today on Girl meets Glamour and it got me thinking about plans and dreams and how we go about setting them.

I once heard someone say "if your dreams are big enough to accomplish on your own, without God's help, then you are dreaming too small." No matter your views on faith, I believe this principle applies across the board - if you can do it all on your own, then you are aiming too low. Shoot higher. Strive for something beyond yourself.

This is a quote I refer back to often as I make decisions about my company and where I am headed. In fact, I have it printed on my business plan so that I don't forget to measure my dreams and goals against it.

So my question to you today (and this is rhetorical, so you don't have to comment, just ponder) is: what level are your goals at? Are they attainable without too much effort or thought? What is the one thing that you would say "I will have made it when . . . " and that seems completely, 100% impossible? That's what you need to work towards. Don't be afraid to ask people to come on board with you to make it happen. We are not meant to go through life alone.

If you're a business owner, revisit the goal/dream section of your business plan and see which area(s) may need tweaking. If you're engaged, sit down with your fiance and make sure you discuss your dreams - even the crazy secret ones you don't tell anyone else - especially since the love of your life will soon be a 24-7 partner in seeing them come to fruition.

I suspect you will find you will be a whole lot happier when you start to view that impossible goal with a glimmer of hope instead of an idea you stash away as "something that will never happen".

{photo from Pictures of Walls via Girl meets Glamour}

This week we're sitting down with Tara Mandy for our Over a Cup of Coffee interviews. Tara is half of the creative duo behind BFF Bridal, an upscale consultancy for brides in New York City. (The other half is Meredith Levy, whom we'll be meeting later on.) A former editor of New York magazine's Weddings Guide and a travel and beauty writer, Tara is a powerhouse of great ideas and inspiration. So grab your latte and start your Tuesday off with a chat with Tara.

Name: Tara Mandy
Location: Manhattan

Share some fun details about your home life:
I got married two years ago, so my home life was mostly about being a new wife—until I became a new mom five months ago. Now I spend most of my time trying to figure out how to be good at both.

How did you get started in the wedding industry?
I used to be the editor of New York magazine’s Weddings issue, which was a gig that sort of fell into my lap long before I was even thinking of getting married.

What was the inspiration behind BFF Bridal?
Meredith and I were planning our weddings at the same time. In between swapping ideas (and venting about the usual wedding-planning gripes), we often got to chatting about the lack of chic bridal stuff out there, and about how challenging the planning would have been if we didn’t have the resources we do (namely, friends in the fashion, beauty and bridal industries). We quickly realized that we had a lot of insider scoop to share.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
Well, certainly working with Meredith. She’s such a talent. But I love the hunt—seeking out and test-driving new products, new services. Trying to determine the best in any given category. It’s a lot of fun to compare and critique. Knowing everything that’s new and coming down the pipeline is kind of an addiction for me.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
There are too many to count. It might sound corny, but I think the highlight is getting to spend every day doing something that I absolutely love. It rarely ever feels like “work.”

When you travel, what is one thing you can't live without?
My husband.

Tell us some of your favorite shops, both on the cheap and to indulge:
My two favorite stores to indulge are Sabbia Rosa, in Paris, and Stephane et Bernard, in St. Barth. Sabbia Rosa has the most exquisite sleepwear. You just feel like such a lady the second you walk in there. And Stephane et Bernard is the best shopping experience anywhere in the world. The owners have dressed everyone from Jackie to Nan Kempner. They toss you in a dressing room, and just bring you piles and piles of clothes, fawning all over you until you find something perfect. On the cheap, I get very excited about babyGap these days.

Let us in on one off the beaten path place we must visit while in New York:
Get a milkshake at the Lexington Candy Shop.

{Note: our weekly coffee interview will be happening tomorrow. Sit tight, it's a good one. Okay, I am biased because I think they are all good!}


Back in March I posted a list of potential worst first dance songs and topping the list was U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".

While that post is a bit tongue in cheek and good for a laugh, I now want to know what your favorite wedding songs are and if they hold any sentimental value for you. Share in the comments below.

To be fair, I'll be the first to answer my own question: I love the song "At Last" by Etta James. L-O-V-E it. It is timeless and amazing. I have heard it a million times at weddings and it never gets old for me. I will say though that I tend to roll my eyes when couples who are 20 years old play it at their wedding as their first dance. "Sure honey you have waited soooo long for your love to come along". But I never say that out loud. One does have to maintain some decorum after all.

Okay, your turn!

A while ago I decided I wanted larger pictures on my blog than Blogger's photo feature would allow. I am totally a visual person - I love to see what people are talking about instead of just reading it. I am also blind as a bat (cute glasses and contacts get me by. Sidenote: I love stylish glasses - they are like shoes for your face), so I am always squinting to see the detail in the small pictures. Well, after rooting around Google for a bit, I figured out how to make the photos larger for Blogger blogs. It is a few extra steps than using the Blogger uploading tool, but I think it is worth it. I am sure there are easier ways to do this, so if you know of any, share them in the comments! Here is the process, step by step:

Since my layout is not a standard one, I decided to use the popular Minima white template for this example. Here is what it looks like normally:


Before you can host larger photos, you need to make sure that your blog layout is wide enough for them to fit.

{Helpful hint: if you are planning a major overhaul to your blog, create a new "test" blog and set it to private so that it doesn't show up in the search engines. This will allow you to play around with the template without interrupting your normal blogging routine or the appearance of your blog. Then when you are ready for your new blog's debut, simply paste the test code into your real blog's template.}

1) Open your blogger template, and under layout, choose "edit html". Scroll down to where it says outer-wrapper and main-wrapper. Adjust the width of both. I chose 1200 for the outer and 900 for the main:


2) After doing this once, you won't need to do it again. Your blog will permanently be at these settings unless you decide to change them later on. Here is what it looks like with the blogging section widened:


Okay, now on to the photos:

1) Choose which photos you like and resize them to the dimensions you want. For this example, we will have to keep them under 900 pixels in width since that is the max width of the blogging section.

2) Upload your photos to an outside hosting site. I use flickr and photobucket, but there are tons more out there.

3) Copy the code that those sites give you and paste it where you want it to appear in your blog post. {Never use the photo upload button inside of Blogger.} This example uses flickr:

4) To center the photos, add this tag: < align="center"> to the beginning of the code and this tag: < /div > to the end of it. {note: remove the spaces between the arrows - I had to put those in so that the code would show up for this example and not turn invisible and do its job.}

5) Voila! Large photos!






Yes, those two cute and grumpy pirates are me and my little sis on a family vacation to the Bahamas. Circa a long time ago. :)

edited to add: This post was published while the blog had a different layout.  Currently the photos overlap under the more recent layout because the sizes are formatted for the old layout. This will be fixed asap!

Matthew Mead Style has launched their Fall website this week and, as expected, it is fabulous! It has tons of great ideas for all things Autumn.

My fave are these cute DIY glasses for your All Hallows Eve get togethers. With some black electrical tape and Matthew's free templates that you can download from his site, you have an instantly fun (and economical) way to dress up your party! So easy, even this non-crafty girl can do it. (And after my Martha Stewart tissue flower pom fiasco, you know this one really has to be easy!)

So what are you waiting for? Head over there right now!

{photos from Matthew Mead Style}

Emily from Modern Bride sent over some info yesterday on their new Always a Bridesmaid contest. Here's the scoop from her email:

Modern Bride magazine is celebrating the upcoming movie 27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl (as a 27-time bridesmaid), James Marsden, Ed Burns and Malin Akerman by launching a nationwide contest called “Always a Bridesmaid.”

Modern Bride is looking for all current and former bridesmaids to submit in 100 words or less what’s great – or not – about being a ‘maid. Entrants must also submit a photo of themselves in a bridesmaid dress at a wedding and how many times they’ve been a ‘maid. The winner will have their entry published in a future issue of the magazine and will win a trip to the world premiere of 27 Dresses as the guest of Modern Bride’s Editor-in-Chief Antonia van der Meer. The winner will have their hair and makeup done, be outfitted in a gorgeous gown and will have their photo taken with Katherine Heigl.

Enter the contest at www.brides.com/modernbride/alwaysabridesmaid.

Okay, I am adding my own rule into the mix as well: if you win, you have to let us know!

This story over at Charming, but single had me laughing out loud yesterday. In it she recants her role as a bridesmaid and the dilemma she found herself in when she learned she hadn't ordered her dress in time. Head on over and read it for a fun laugh to start your morning. (And if you're a bride, send it to all your gals so they know that yes, these things can and do happen!)

American's use two million plastic beverage bottles every five minutes. No, you didn't blink. That is 2,000,000 in 5 minutes.

Here's what all those zeros look like courtesy of Chris Jordan's Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait (I first saw this link over at Becker's blog). Chris's studio was kind enough to let me use these photos here and I wanted to share them because sometimes things don't hit home until we see them:

Plastic Bottles, 2007
60x120"

Depicts two million plastic beverage bottles, the number used in the US every five minutes:

Partial zoom:

Detail at actual size:

That turns out to be 576 million plastic beverage bottles used every day! While some of them will get recycled, that is still an exorbitant amount of waste.

Instead of offering individual water bottles at your wedding, have the wait staff butler pass glasses filled with filtered water. Or choose to have one or two iced pitchers at each table with glasses for guests to refill. Wedding bottles as favors may be cute (and there are some beautiful ones on the market), but they are not necessary at a dining table.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule and being eco-friendly does not mean being rigid with your practices. Personalized water bottles make great giveaways for events like bridal party golf outings or in areas where glass may not be allowed (if your reception is being held near a pool or water area, for example).

I encourage you to take stock of your current wedding plans: are there elements that can be replaced with something more eco-friendly and less wasteful? And then the tough question: if so, are you willing to?

{photos from Running the Numbers: An American Self Portrait by Chris Jordan}

Lynn from the Handcrafted Wedding blog has officially launched her new site, The Handcrafted Wedding, which features designs by different artists. For those of you who want a little personality in your wedding and not the mass produced stuff you can find anywhere, be sure to check it out.

Here is a blurb from their site:

"Tired of the ho-hum, mass-produced, cookie-cutter products that saturate the wedding market these days? If you’re looking for fabulously uncommon wedding ideas that will help your big day truly reflect your personality and style, you’ve come to the right place.

The Handcrafted Wedding was created to showcase an exclusive group of independent designers and specialty artisans who have one goal in mind… to create your wedding vision with unique, customizable wedding accessories, that are crafted with uncommon quality.

Each featured designer was selected based on the extraordinary creativity, quality, and services they provide. From custom save-the-date cards to attention-grabbing wedding favors, each exceptional detail helps perfect the unique event you’ve been anticipating for a lifetime."

Picture this: you are taking a stroll down memory lane by flipping through your wedding album. Your planner did a knockout job getting all the details just so and your photographer did an amazing job of capturing them all. And then you see your dress - your beautiful dress that took you countless hours and stores to find - and as soon as you tried it on, you knew it was "the one", probably the second most important wedding decision you made (the first being the groom of course). The dress is gorgeous and you looked radiant in it and the photographer was able to get a shot of it hanging by itself in the glow of the sunlight. But wait - what are these memories hanging from? A cheap plastic hanger that looks like it just came from the drycleaner's bin. Kind of kills the romantic image, doesn't it?

There are lots of hangers on the market, and even a quick stop into Target will provide you with some that are a lot more photogenic than the one that your dress comes with. A wooden hanger has a classic and timeless look, while the padded ones add a bit of whimsy. Make sure to purchase some with grooves or beads so that the dress doesn't slide right off.


If you're a planner or photographer, bring a nice hanger for your client on the day of the wedding. They will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and attention to detail, which goes a long way for word of mouth. If you're a bride or bridesmaid, be sure to add it to your list of things to bring with you when you're getting ready. Your pictures will thank you.

This week we're having coffee with none other than Matthew Mead, the creative genius behind Matthew Mead Style and the style editor-at-large for Country Home magazine. Matthew's style is loved by many - take a quick jaunt over to his website and I'm sure you'll see why. Join us this morning as we share a cup of coffee with Matthew.

Name: Matthew Mead
Location: Concord, New Hampshire

Share some fun details about your home life:
I just turned 39 years old and live in the Concord, New Hampshire area which is about an hour from Boston and 5 hours from NYC. I have two step-daughters both in college and have been married to my wife, Jenny for 11 years. We have a 1920's bungalow which was updated with some modern amenities and we spend our quiet moments at home watching movies. I have been style-editor-at-large with Country Home magazine for the past 10 years and I love it. I have a column called "hands on style" which runs in all the issues and contribute many stories to the main edit of the magazine as well as produce many of the covers.

How did you get started in design?
I was interested in design from the early 80's when Clarkson Potter began publishing lifestyle books by people like Martha Stewart, Mary Emmerling and Lee Bailey. I began by collecting antiques and doing a great many antiques shows and meeting people. I wrote to some of the Clarkson Potter authors and got to meet many of them. In the 90's I became friends with Mary Emmerling and worked on her magazine, Mary Emmerling's Country Magazine and soon began contributing to Country Home and other publications.

What was the inspiration behind Matthew Mead Style?
Fun, simple, two step ideas that anyone can do with easy to find supplies and items you might even have around the house. And we pay particular attention to the seasons . . . I am very known for great seasonal ideas. Our site changes four times a year and we have great download tags, wraps and paper designs all created by me and my team.

What aspects of your job are your favorite?
Planning, designing and now photographing my ideas. I love working with colors and collectibles and reinventing them through new ideas.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your field?
There is a great deal of grueling packing and unpacking, moving and shifting, toting and schlepping . . . these are the main part of the job and it can become truly overwhelming, especially when dealing with weather.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?
My website, holiday magazine and my new book on entertaining due out in fall 2008 . . . these are labors of love and achievement and bring me so much satisfaction.

When you travel, what is one thing you can't live without?
I fedex my luggage and it is a luxury I won't do without. No waiting once you arrive and no toting . . . it is a very freeing thing. I would love to have luggage and carry on free flights to streamline travel. I would rather spend my time at the flea market then in the luggage line.

Tell us some of your favorite shops, both on the cheap and to indulge:
I love small stores run by simple purveyors. On the high side you can't beat a store like Bell'ochio in San Francisco . . . it is a small store, but filled with ribbons, boxes, Parisian finds and lots of inspiration. On the cheap I love The White Elephant in Essex, MA. It is open on the weekends only and can have so many great junk finds.

Let us in on one off the beaten path place we must visit while in your town:
It is about 45 minutes from me in a small town called Wilton, NH called White Home Collection. It has a yard filled with farmhouse items like old troughs, wagons, zinc topped tables, urns and planters.

Do you have anything else to share that we may be interested in?
I don't do this all by myself . . . my wife heads up much of the planning and purchasing of supplies and I have two assistants who are both named Lisa, we call them "the Lisa's". They help with planning, crafting, moving, making, creating, cooking, etc. I am blessed to have such a skillful, talented and wonderful team . . . I couldn't do it without them.

My goal is to have my own magazine and television show so that we can share all of our great ideas. I love to hear from my site surfers and am always on hand to dispense advice and ideas. I love to talk shop so please feel free to e-mail and send a brief line about why you would purchase my magazine.

If you were here I would offer you some Chocolate silk pie with your coffee . . . see the recipe on my fall site that launched in Mid-September.

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

Just wanted to let you know that this week's Over a Cup of Coffee interview will be posted tomorrow instead of today.

Also, today is the lovely Melissa Jill's birthday, so head on over to her blog and wish her a happy one!

No, I haven't gone crazy and I haven't rebranded my company as Pink Orchid Designs. Ok, well maybe I am a little crazy, but really you have to be just a little bit off your rocker to work in the wedding industry. :) As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I've decided to join bloggers around the world by turning the Blue Orchid Designs blog pink for the entire month. It is easy to read a post once and then go on and forget about it. I am such a visual person, so I know that for myself, seeing the color everyday will help keep this issue at the forefront of my mind.

It will also remind me to make good on goal number 34 on my 101 in 1001 list: schedule annual mammograms. Frankly, this is a process I have been putting off because it sounds a little scary.

Scary or not, it is important and I need to quit being a pansy about getting it done. Last year a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer after doctors detected it during one of her prenatal checkups while she was pregnant with her daughter. She is only 29 years old. The baby is beautiful by the way and my friend is in remission. Her story and walking through it with her is reason enough for me to stop putting off these important precautions.

My challenge to you is to schedule a mammogram this month for yourself, or if you're a man, to encourage your wife or girlfriend to schedule one for herself. This disease also affects men, so I'd recommend checking with your doctor on how you can take precautions and preventative steps for yourself.

{The photo above is a mosaic of the different websites that went Pink for October last year. Image from Jim Bumgardner's flickr site. To see an interactive version, click here.}